Industry on the brink of a new age of smart pharma manufacturing
![](/46/pdcnewsitem/08/00/32/Industry-on-the-brink-of-a-new-age-of-smart-pharmamanufacturing.jpeg)
Report predicts tomorrow’s biggest industry winners will need to invest now ahead of the curve.
Ahead of P-MEC 2019, the only dedicated pharmaceutical machinery event in Europe this year – co-located with CPHI Worldwide in Frankfurt, 5-7 November – the first ever CPHI Pharmaceutical Machinery Report identifies trends affecting the market. The findings highlight how the changing drugs pipeline and the industry’s drive towards more efficient manufacturing is necessitating new investments in pharma equipment.
The evolving R&D pipeline of smaller volume drugs, coupled with advanced technologies that remove scale-up challenges – such as single-use equipment and continuous processing – are not only transforming industry attrition rates, but vastly changing the types of machinery used in pharma manufacturing. Moreover, running alongside this pipeline evolution are newer approaches that reduce the number of steps in process development, making production greener and lowering overall cost. Manufacturing is now at a crucial juncture as push and pull drivers – including newer technologies, changing pipelines and demand for lower cost drugs – combine to significantly alter how drugs will be made in the future. The report predicts we are on the cusp of a new age of smart pharma manufacturing, as equipment is set to take centre-stage in the development of advanced medicines.
P-MEC 2019 itself is testament to this trend. Exhibitor numbers have doubled in a single year to over 150, as the industry shifts its perspective on new technologies from ‘in an ideal world we would’ to ‘we must have these to grow’. In an industry that has often been dependent on legacy systems and undertaking manufacturing in ‘the same way as before’ for fear of encountering any potential regulatory hurdles, this is a seismic shift. Significantly, this potentially has huge implications for the entire supply chain and CPHI Worldwide – the largest pharma event in the world with more than 45,000 attendees – is seeing changes across all parts of the show from contract services to ingredients, packaging and finished dosage drugs.
The report also forecasts how flexibility in product design is now integral to the lifespan of equipment – a consequence of new products often being produced for smaller patient cohorts. For example, new types of delivery systems and dosages, mean new packaging and labelling equipment are needed that can adjust to these individual dosage forms.
Reflecting industry drivers, the agenda at P-MEC 2019 explores the implications of patient centricity, evolving equipment for an eco-friendly age, and how new devices used in the biologics industry are affecting equipment considerations and the implications for filling machines.
In another key trend, regulators are striving to make manufacturing processes increasingly standardized and controlled – with technologies that improve quality risk-based methodologies (QRM), Quality by Design (QbD), process analytical technology (PAT) and continuous manufacturing encouraged.
A potential implication of seeking greater control in process methods will be the need for an increased use of real-time monitoring. Significantly, methods from raman and infrared spectroscopy, chromatographic separation to faster technologies such as ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) or ultra-high performance LC (UHPLC) are proliferating alongside nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). However, the big challenge that continues to remain is how to build these into commercial production for real-time analysis in enclosed systems, single use technologies, and continuous rigs.
Finally, the report ponders how digital technologies may improve production and machinery as an ‘unknown variable’. For example, the impact that digital technologies will play in reducing downtime and increasing process efficiency through AI. One solution could see the use of connected machines to reduce the need for pharma customers to audit contract manufacturers or ingredient suppliers in person – with real-time product updates supplied automatically, essentially a natural evolution of PAT guidelines.
Orhan Caglayan, Brand Director - CPHI Worldwide & P-MEC, said: “From the optimization of old legacy manufacturing sites to the increased use of testing facilities and equipment, there is genuine excitement around the pharmaceutical machinery industry. This is mirrored by a 50% increase in exhibitors at this year’s P-MEC event, with over 150 confirmed exhibitors so far. What’s more, P-MEC is taking place in Frankfurt, Germany – a hub of manufacturing and Europe’s largest pharma market – and it’s the only pharmaceutical machinery exhibition this year in Europe. So it’s an unmissable opportunity for any company looking to explore the latest technologies to transform the way they work both today and in the future.”
Related News
-
News CPHI North America 2024 – From the Floor
Welcome to Philly! CPHI North America once again graces the Philadelphia Convention Center, 7–9 May 2024. -
News Women in Pharma: Diversi‘tea’ at CPHI North America
CPHI North America will unite the pharmaceutical supply chain in Philadelphia from May 7–9, 2024 for 3 days of innovation and connections. As part of the content Agenda, our Diversity Track will bring the industry together to discuss the imperati... -
News More to celebrate at the CPHI Milan Pharma Awards 2024
The CPHI Milan Pharma Awards, which are now open for nominations until 18 May 2024, celebrate the innovators making a difference. This year, two new categories have been added to further honour the contributions of a diverse range of pharma professiona... -
News On Track at CPHI NA 2024: Sustainable Futures with Thermo Fisher Scientific
On the 7-9 May 2024 in Philadelphia, CPHI NA will be presenting an unmissable agenda, filled with content across 4 main tracks. In the following interview the Sustainable Futures Track sponsor, Thermo Fisher Scientific gives an overview of what to expe... -
News LEAP-ing into the future of pharma – the CPHI Middle East Vision
On March 6, 2024, the CPHI team hosted the Future of Pharma Forum at LEAP 2024, Saudi Arabia’s premier destination for tech leaders and innovators to meet and collaborate. -
News CPHI Middle East 2024 – What do we have to look forward to?
We’re bringing CPHI to the Middle East in December 2024. CPHI brings together the pharma community from all over the world, creating a platform for education, collaboration, and progress. -
News CPHI Pharma Awards 2023 – Packaging & Machinery Winner: Gasporox
After another year of impressive nominations for the CPHI Pharma Awards our winners were announced at CPHI Barcelona in October 2023. In this series of interviews, we speak to the people and teams behind the award-winning projects, concepts, and techno... -
News Unpacking what we learnt: Key Pharmapack takeaways with L.E.K. Consulting
After another successful Pharmapack show, we sat down with Karin von Kienlin, Senior Partner at L.E.K. Consulting, to discuss the biggest takeaways and surprises from 2 days of intense discussion and collaboration.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance