• Login
    • Join
  • FOLLOW:
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Manufacturing
    • Packaging
    • Development
    • Compliance
    • Top 20
    • Directory
    • Solution Center
    • Events
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Manufacturing
  • Packaging
  • Development
  • Compliance
  • Top 20
  • Directory
  • Solution Center
  • Events
  • Current / Back Issue
    Features
    Editorial
    Columns
    Digital Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Editorial Guidelines
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    Pharma Supply Chains: From Fragile to Agile

    Advanced Manufacturing and a Roadmap to the Facility of the Future

    Solving Pharma’s Underlying Rebate Leakage Problem

    Pharmaceutical Labeling: Overcoming Regulatory & Operational Challenges

    Revolutionizing Pharma’s Supply Chain
    Breaking News
    Online Exclusives
    Industry News
    Collaborations & Alliances
    Promotions & Moves
    Trials & Filings
    Financial Reports
    Bio News & Views
    Custom Sourcing News
    Packaging & Tracking
    CRO News
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Univercells Expands into the U.S. With New Offices in Andover, MA

    Evecxia Therapeutics, Quotient Sciences Complete Clinical Milestone for Depression Treatment

    Ionis, Roche Partner on RNA-targeted Programs for AD and HD

    Sanner Group Opens Second Manufacturing Facility in China

    Körber Integrates Werum PAS-X MES with Bausch+Ströbel Systems
    APIs
    Aseptic Processing
    Cleaning Validation
    Clinical Trial Materials
    Cytotoxics and High Potency Manufacturing
    Equipment
    Excipients
    Extractables and Leachables
    Facilities
    Fill/Finish
    Lyophilization
    Parenterals
    Process Development
    Process Validation
    Risk Management
    Scale-up/ Technology Transfer
    Solid Dosage/ Creams/ Ointments

    Univercells Expands into the U.S. With New Offices in Andover, MA

    Evecxia Therapeutics, Quotient Sciences Complete Clinical Milestone for Depression Treatment

    Sanner Group Opens Second Manufacturing Facility in China

    Körber Integrates Werum PAS-X MES with Bausch+Ströbel Systems

    "3 Key Trends" with Srinivasan Shanmugam
    Capsules
    Cold Chain Management
    Injectables
    Logistics
    Serialization
    Solid Dosage / Semi-solids
    Supply Chain
    Vials

    Pharmaceutical Continuous Manufacturing: USP Technical Guide

    Mikart Expands Production and Packaging Capabilities

    Flavor Masking for Rx and OTC Drugs

    Prefilled Syringe Production: Filling a Need with Modern Equipment

    Making the Complex, Simple: A Roadmap for Your OSD Journey
    Analytical Services
    Bioanalytical Services
    Bioassay Developement
    Biologics, Proteins, Vaccines
    Biosimilars
    Chemistry
    Clinical Trials
    Drug Delivery
    Drug Development
    Drug Discovery
    Formulation Development
    Information Technology
    Laboratory Testing
    Methods Development
    Microbiology
    Preclinical Outsourcing
    R&D
    Toxicology

    Evecxia Therapeutics, Quotient Sciences Complete Clinical Milestone for Depression Treatment

    Ionis, Roche Partner on RNA-targeted Programs for AD and HD

    Modern Partnerships with CROs

    Merck KGaA, Quris-AI Expand Collaboration

    BioCity, AstraZeneca Partner on Treatment of Advanced HCC
    Filtration & Purification
    GMPs/GCPs
    Inspections
    QA/QC
    Regulatory Affairs
    Validation

    Pharmaceutical Labeling: Overcoming Regulatory & Operational Challenges

    Rentschler Biopharma’s ATMP UK Facility Receives MHRA Approval

    Aurisco's Manufacturing Site in China Clears FDA Inspection

    LighthouseAI Secures $2.25M Investment to Grow Supply Chain Products

    Valisure, DoD Conduct Pharmaceutical Quality Risk Assessment Study
    Companies
    Categories
    Corporate Capabilities
    Add New Company
    Contract Service Directory Companies
    U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)

    AMERIPHARMA

    LOTTE BIOLOGICS

    Bachem

    INCOG BioPharma Services
    Companies
    News Releases
    Posters
    Brochures
    Services
    Videos
    Case Study
    White Papers
    Jobs
    Contract Service Directory Companies
    U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)

    AMERIPHARMA

    LOTTE BIOLOGICS

    Bachem

    INCOG BioPharma Services
    Webinars
    Live From Shows
    • Magazine
      • Current / Back Issue
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Editorial Guidelines
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
      • Enewsletter Archive
      • Digital Edition
    • Directory
      • Companies
      • Categories
      • Corporate Capabilities
      • Add Your Company
    • Manufacturing
      • APIs
      • Aseptic Processing
      • Cleaning Validation
      • Clinical Trial Materials
      • Cytotoxics and High Potency Manufacturing
      • Equipment
      • Excipients
      • Extractables and Leachables
      • Facilities
      • Fill/Finish
      • Lyophilization
      • Parenterals
      • Process Development
      • Process Validation
      • Risk Management
      • Scale-up/ Technology Transfer
      • Solid Dosage/ Creams/ Ointments
      • cGMP Manufacture
    • Packaging
      • Capsules
      • Cold Chain Management
      • Injectables
      • Logistics
      • Serialization
      • Solid Dosage / Semi-solids
      • Supply Chain
      • Vials
    • Development
      • Analytical Services
      • Bioanalytical Services
      • Bioassay Developement
      • Biologics, Proteins, Vaccines
      • Biosimilars
      • Chemistry
      • Clinical Trials
      • Drug Delivery
      • Drug Development
      • Drug Discovery
      • Formulation Development
      • Information Technology
      • Laboratory Testing
      • Methods Development
      • Microbiology
      • Preclinical Outsourcing
      • R&D
      • Toxicology
    • Compliance
      • Filtration & Purification
      • GMPs/GCPs
      • Inspections
      • QA/QC
      • Regulatory Affairs
      • Validation
    • Top 25 Pharma & BioPharma
    • Contract Pharma Direct
    • Breaking News
    • Online Exclusives
    • Slideshows
    • Experts Opinions
    • Surveys
      • Outsourcing Survey
      • Salary Survey
    • Glossary
    • Videos
    • White Papers
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • Microsites
      • Companies
      • News Releases
      • Posters
      • Brochures
      • Services
      • Videos
      • Case Study
      • White Papers
    • Contract Pharma Conference
      • Contract Pharma Conference
      • Speakers
      • Exhibitors
      • Conference Sessions
    • eBook
    • Webinars
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live from Show Events
      • Webinars
    • Classifieds / Job Bank
      • Classifieds
      • Job Bank
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Features

    Supply Chain Trends

    Raising the performance of the pharmaceutical packaging supply chain

    Supply Chain Trends
    Rich Quelch, Global Head of Marketing, Origin06.04.20
    For too long the pharmaceutical supply chain has been overlooked. Despite linking the laboratory to the marketplace, the majority of investment has instead been prioritized for the discovery, development and marketing of new products to sell.

    However, over time, this underinvestment has meant global supply chains aren’t prepared for the large-scale shifts in demand, new product types with complex requirements, and increasing pressures from ever-tightening environmental regulations being placed on the industry.

    But, while this is currently holding the international pharmaceutical industry back, it isn’t too late for change. There are huge technological and commercial opportunities in this area, open to those who blaze the trail and lead through best practice.

    Moving towards 360-degree visibility from concept to commercial must become a priority for pharmaceutical manufacturers, transforming the typically disjointed elements of packaging development, manufacturing, and distribution into a coherent and flexible supply chain that’s truly global.

    This, in turn, will improve speed to market, assurance of supply and overall operating efficiency. As well as reaping the rewards of reduced risk and higher profits, more patients will get access to affordable and safe medicines and therapies.

    Patient safety has always and will always continue to be the number one priority for the pharmaceutical industry. After all, as a sector, its mission is to save and prolong life. But pharma’s ability to deliver on this promise is being put under threat by outdated and underfunded supply chains.

    Confounding stress factors
    International pharma supply chains are currently under considerable pressure from confounding stress factors. The latest challenge to test the resilience of all global supply chains, not just pharmaceuticals, is COVID-19.

    The rapid spread of the virus through regions in China slowed or even halted manufacturing completely, with many product-based industries quickly seeing the impact on their supply chains. India, one of the world’s largest exporter of drugs that U.S. and European markets heavily rely on, also limited medicine exports in response to fears of global shortages.

    Due to most active pharmaceutical ingredients now being manufactured in Asia, particularly China and India, this places many international healthcare systems in a vulnerable position if large areas overseas are impacted by a contagion. The same is true for increasingly common and localized extreme weather events, brought on by climate change.

    Climate change is also driving many of the world’s governments and regulators to tighten and impose more legislation to help curb carbon emissions and reduce plastic and water waste, greatly impacting how pharma produces and distributes its products.

    In addition to this, a new wave of complex biologic medicines and gene therapies are hitting the market, throwing up challenges for manufacturing and distribution networks due to their sensitivity and short life cycles.

    We’re also seeing greater demand for pharmaceuticals from emerging BRIC economies, increasing the need for truly global supply chains, and aging population placing pressure on healthcare systems.

    The problem of counterfeit and falsified medicine hasn’t gone away either, despite innovations in smart secondary packaging design to track and trace distribution. The criminal market for falsified medicine is worth over $200 billion per year, making the protection of medicine quality and safety a priority, including the development of tamper-proof packaging technologies.

    Combined, these forces represent a huge challenge for modern pharma. As the frontier of drug innovation evolves, so must manufacturing and distribution systems.

    A hybrid supply chain fit for today and tomorrow
    A pharmaceutical supply chain that’s fit for purpose today and tomorrow is one that’s not just reactive, but proactive. It will anticipate and accommodate current and future trends.

    However, today, much of the supply chain management within the pharma industry remains at variance with revolutions synonymous with other markets.

    The important challenges for pharmaceuticals companies with regard to packaging supply chain management have many similar features when compared with the Aerospace and Defense markets, where the continual commitment to accelerate competitiveness by following best practices and raising the performance of its supply chains has resulted in the SC21 initiative.

    It has become commonplace for the manufacturing and packaging of medicines to happen across multiple sites, and once the materials for the medication are delivered, the final product is created in pieces. This means multiple teams are managing multiple international supplier sites, with room for delay and error.

    Instead, teams on the ground need to be capable of creating any solution, to any problem, anytime, and anywhere. To facilitate the new pharmaceutical landscape that’s resilient in the face of new and existing stress factors, a fresh and agile approach is needed, one which leans towards an all-in-one solution that isn’t restricted to one manufacturing location or field of expertise.

    It’s important to have made investments in creating a hybrid change program alongside some of the top international pharma companies to help accelerate the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical primary packaging industry and uphold the highest quality standards.

    By consolidating the supply chain—inclusive of packaging design, sourcing raw materials, manufacture, and distribution—under one roof brings a large range of benefits. These include, but aren’t limited to, reduced risks and overheads, greater innovation, assurance of supply and compliance, tighter quality control and local availability via regional distribution sites on a global scale.
    This includes having access to dedicated sales and innovation offices, manufacturing cells, and storage facilities in strategic locations.

    Increasing end-to-end visibility with data
    End-to-end visibility of the supply chain is key to greater efficiency and agility. Big data and the application of AI are helping to give clarity impossible until now.

    Like most organizations, pharmaceutical companies have access to vast data banks, but many don’t have the structures or knowledge in place to maximize its value. Pharma companies need to think of digital not as a series of individual tools but as a means of transformation, requiring specialist technology and people.

    There’s been a gradual shift towards a virtual supply chain model, with stakeholders transferring operations from enterprise resource planning software to the cloud, allowing for all organizations to connect to a shared system regardless of their own IT infrastructure. This alone can give wide visibility of the supply chain, end to end.

    Pharma operations executives can leverage big data, external and internal indicators, and machine learning algorithms to better forecast demand, and automatically identify and mitigate supply risks. In manufacturing, analytical models can accurately predict and respond to critical events in real-time to increase efficiency, reduce downtime and avoid serious shortages.

    For example, Smart-i PharmiTrack, created by Origin is a pre-developed product featuring a central user interface combined with an integrated packaging chip to manage and record all the typical activities that occur in the supply chain, logging events or raising queries that occur during a product’s lifespan. It can be hosted with a secure cloud server or system, allowing global access to authorized users enabling centralized control of batch management such as the revoking or reinstating a batch or communicating information to pharmacists or patients.

    In terms of forecasting, advanced AI software can now even pick up that a large number of people in a city are complaining of flu-like symptoms on social media and use this analysis to predict an imminent large-scale outbreak, giving local authorities and healthcare systems more time to react.

    When it comes to transportation, AI is making it possible to predict and manage transportation capacity at a highly granular level, while virtually eliminating manual work and best-guess decisions. Smarter decisions when it comes to transport can reduce costs by a substantial amount, as well as decrease CO2 emissions.

    Overcoming barriers to smart data management
    All in all, the promise of AI in pharma supply chain management is clear.

    However, as with most new technologies, a lack of understanding and legacy IT infrastructure is currently limiting its uptake and holding innovation back. After all, AI applications are only as good as the data they have access to.

    Investment and focus need to be directed towards updating in-house digital infrastructure and partnering with innovative technology start-ups who are creating these game-changing AI solutions.

    It’s also vital that over the next five years, key decision-makers and leaders in pharma make training a priority to bridge the skills gap and ensure the industry can capitalize on AI technologies. This will require upfront investment and new ways of working, which are two reasons why uptake has been slow off the ground.

    There is no doubt that AI is the future of operating exponentially more efficient and more intelligent supply chain systems but today, the industry is at a crossroads. And it’s up to us which direction we take.

    Pharma companies that embrace hybrid supply chains and smart data management can expect significant payback in speed, cost-efficiency and risk mitigation. Those that stick with the status quo may find themselves quickly at a dead end.

    The most successful pharma companies of tomorrow will be those who invest in and build agile and efficient supply chains—both virtual and physical—today. 


    Rich Quelch is an experienced global marketer within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. He has led the development of the Origin brand, positioning it as a leading supplier of innovative and ground-breaking pharmaceutical packaging devices, as well as offering a unique supply chain model which is disrupting the pharma industry.
      Loading, Please Wait..
      Breaking News
      • Univercells Expands into the U.S. With New Offices in Andover, MA
      • Evecxia Therapeutics, Quotient Sciences Complete Clinical Milestone for Depression Treatment
      • Ionis, Roche Partner on RNA-targeted Programs for AD and HD
      • Sanner Group Opens Second Manufacturing Facility in China
      • Körber Integrates Werum PAS-X MES with Bausch+Ströbel Systems
      View Breaking News >
      CURRENT ISSUE

      September 2023

      • Pharma Supply Chains: From Fragile to Agile
      • Overcoming Stressors in Knowledge Transfer
      • Innovations in Pharma Packaging
      • HPAPI Manufacturing Trends
      • Sustainable Packaging in Pharma: No Longer a Pipe Dream
      • Revolutionizing Pharma’s Supply Chain
      • Pharmaceutical Labeling: Overcoming Regulatory & Operational Challenges
      • Solving Pharma’s Underlying Rebate Leakage Problem
      • Advanced Manufacturing and a Roadmap to the Facility of the Future
      • View More >

      Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
      You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

      • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms And Conditions
      • Contact Us

      follow us

      Subscribe
      Nutraceuticals World

      Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

      D2C Supplement Brand Launches Blood Sugar Support Supplement, Gluco-Control
      Natrol Launches First Non-Melatonin Sleep Supplement
      Metagenics Releases Consumer Survey on Menopausal Support Supplement
      Coatings World

      Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

      Coating Additives Market Worth $10.5B by 2028: MarketsandMarkets
      California Sports Surfaces Celebrates 70 Years
      ROSS Offers Cost-Effective, Expertly Reconditioned Equipment
      Medical Product Outsourcing

      Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

      MPO's Most-Read Stories This Week—Sept. 30
      Dentsply Sirona Names Former NuVasive CEO Lucier as Chairman
      SeaStar Medical Gets Breakthrough Nod for Selective Cytopheretic Device
      Contract Pharma

      Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

      Univercells Expands into the U.S. With New Offices in Andover, MA
      Evecxia Therapeutics, Quotient Sciences Complete Clinical Milestone for Depression Treatment
      Ionis, Roche Partner on RNA-targeted Programs for AD and HD
      Beauty Packaging

      Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

      MAV Beauty Recruits Former Elizabeth Arden CEO Scott Beattie
      YSL Beauty Taps Finn Wolfhard, Lil Yachty & More for Fragrance Campaign
      74% of Makeup Users Open to Affordable ‘Dupes,’ Mintel Says
      Happi

      Latest Breaking News From Happi

      Is Dr. Barbara Sturm Skincare Considering a Sale?
      YSL Beauty Welcomes Five Foremost Artists to Represent New Fragrance
      Christian Siriano Appointed Olay’s First Chief Drop Officer
      Ink World

      Latest Breaking News From Ink World

      MicroDynamics, All Printing Resources Partner to Represent Veritas
      Weekly Recap: Wikoff Color, BASF, Latin America Top This Week’s Stories
      Siegwerk’s Climate Targets Validated by SBTi
      Label & Narrow Web

      Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

      SABIC and partners launch bio-based IML solution for food packaging
      tesa completes expansion of Michigan manufacturing facility
      Comexi and Asahi to host 'Effortless Platemaking' event
      Nonwovens Industry

      Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

      Greentech Introduces Air Filter with Advanced Odor Elimination
      Ontex Divests Pakistan Operations to ASAIA Holding
      Goodnites Bedwetting Underwear Recognized by Good Housekeeping
      Orthopedic Design & Technology

      Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

      ODT's Most-Read Stories This Week—Sept. 30
      Lazurite Adds Benchmark Medical as a Distributor for its ArthroFree Wireless Camera System
      ChitogenX Granted New U.S., Canadian ORTHO-R Patent
      Printed Electronics Now

      Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

      Weekly Recap: Mergers and Acquisitions, First Solar Top This Week’s Stories
      Jabil Posts Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Year 2023 Results
      Ink-Borne ‘Chiplets’ Could Lead to Printable Displays, Electronics and More

      Copyright © 2023 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

      AD BLOCKER DETECTED

      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


      FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login