Pharmapack Report Forecasts a Rise in Innovation from Smaller Companies

Before the doors open at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, on Feb. 6, 2019, Pharmapack Europe event organizers have released a report titled, ‘European drug delivery and packaging’ that forecasts an increase in innovation from smaller European companies.

In a Jan. 24, 2019 press release, the event organizers highlighted the main outcomes of the report, which include the main challenges and opportunities facing the industry for the coming 12 months. The forecasted growth in innovation by smaller companies is expected to be driven by the rise in biologics, which is bringing investment into newer drug delivery systems, as well as the widening of digital technologies across the Internet of medical things (IoMT), and connected devices.

Across Europe, development of specialized and consumer-friendly technologies has been undertaken more by smaller firms and is reflected in the Pharmapack Europe Innovation Gallery. However, within the report, the experts stressed that despite the innovation being witnessed there is still a significant gap between promising prototypes and commercial products.

In fact, the report experts predicted that, more than likely, the larger companies will source the smaller companies and innovation hubs for licensing partners and acquisitions. Through the combination of larger drug delivery and pharma companies and smaller innovative and agile companies, accessibility for the patient to the innovative technologies should be enabled at a quicker rate.

Additionally, the report presents the first ‘drug delivery innovation’ rankings, which highlights Germany, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom as tier-one nations in Europe. On a global scale, Japan and the United States headed up the rankings.

Self-administration delivery methods were highlighted as a key market trend, including smart applications that help patients to monitor dosing and time of delivery. “The balance between sales of ‘conventional’ and ‘biologic’ drugs have shifted progressively over the past few years,” said Andy Fry, founder of Team Consulting, in the report. “Given that virtually all biologics are parenterally delivered, the majority of these self-administered, the strong demand for wearable delivery devices, autoinjectors and pens, as well as pre-filled syringes and dual chamber products, is expected to continue in 2019.”

The report concludes that through the combined trends of the drug delivery and packaging sectors, it is clear that regulators, developers, and patients are looking to improve the overall patient experience and create more patient-centric treatment options. Silvia Forroova, event director Pharmapack, commented, “Our report’s findings closely mirror the agenda we have developed, and the conference will run across three broad themes-'patient adherence and usability’, ‘new packaging materials and drug delivery systems’, and ‘sustainability’. Our sessions on patient-centricity, smart devices and packaging, as well as connected applications and auto-injectors are generating particular excitement.”

Source: Pharmapack Europe