Pharma Predictions

Published on: 
Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology-12-02-2007, Volume 31, Issue 12

In honor of Pharmaceutical Technology's 30th anniversary, the editors conducted a survey of 320 readers last spring to discuss industry advances and future directions. Here are some of your foward-looking responses.

Ahead in active pharmaceutical ingredients: "The opportunities lie" in biologics-based drug candidates, and "the innovation is in" emerging or small- to medium-sized pharmaceutical companies.

Ahead in analytical technology: "[Supercritical fluid chromatography] is maturing for analytical and preparatory chromatography."

Ahead in outsourcing: Readers felt that outsourcing, including "mergers," "India and China," and "clinical/biological testing outsourcing," would have a major impact on industry as it allows for "cheaper" costs, "increased flexibility," and "more independent firms." Others felt outsourcing was leading to a "shutdown of Big Pharma manufacturing sites," and job loss.

Ahead in dosage forms: "The [technique] of developing a solid dosage from a liquid version, even though it is very advanced, is still in its beginning stages."

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Ahead in manufacturing: "We hope the [Critical Path Initiative] will speed up approval times." "Pharmaceutical companies need to keep their investigation of new drugs to compensate for the competition of generic drugs." "ICH [International Conference on Harmonization] is now the benchmark for determining regulatory requirements." "The formation of the EP [European Pharmacopoeia] is leveling, but has not leveled, the playing field." And, said another participant, "[The EP] will help the harmonization process... [and] facilitate global drug development markedly."

Ahead in compression technologies: "We are definitely seeing the desire for using APIs [active pharmaceutical ingredients] in combination [for bi- and tri-layered tablets.]"

Ahead in containment: "...There is more awareness of extracting, leaching, and cleaning residues contamination. There appears to be a drive to do real-time surfaces analysis."

Ahead in analytical testing: "More advanced water testing instruments are gaining acceptance in pharmaceutical laboratories."

Ahead in process development: "Green chemistry is openly challenging the best minds to look for greener alternatives to current chemical issues."

See the July 2007 issue for more coverage of the 30th Anniversary Survey.

Your opinion matters.

To contribute to this column,send your proposal tomhoffman@advanstar.com .