Pharmaceutical Technology Europe-09-01-2006

The worldwide market for biopharmaceuticals was estimated to be $50 billion in 2005. North America accounts for 60% in terms of revenue and R&D. Europe accounts for 20% and Japan 10%. It is also estimated that 400–500 biotech drugs are under clinical development for various disease conditions. Biopharmaceuticals are being developed to fight cancer, viral infections, diabetes, hepatitis and multiple sclerosis. The distinct families of biopharmaceuticals include

RFID is viewed by many, including FDA, as a technology with strong potential for carrying the mass serialization data needed to track and trace product and to create pedigree records.

Process development is an important aspect of biopharmaceutical development.1,2 Through studies in the pharmaceutical industry, Pisano suggests that companies able to develop and implement new process technologies quickly and effectively have a competitive edge. In addition, the fact that the production cost of biopharmaceuticals could be up to 25% of sales value means that the failure to develop a viable process could result in uneconomic manufacturing routes and the inability to capture fully the value of the firm's discovery.3

There is currently no vaccination or cure for prion diseases and contamination of a parenteral or infusion pharmaceutical product could prove fatal.

With a finger on the pulse of an evolving market, the sales and marketing team can visually demonstrate trends and new market opportunities to the R&D team

Can high-resolution sound velocity measurements be used as an analytical tool?

Introducing lean manufacturing into the pharma sector.