Pharmaceutical packaging can be an understated yet vital component of the pharmaceutical industry. Without quality packaging expectations, the medicines that are often important and even lifesaving can be harmed or even ruined, and the technology used to ensure their safety is becoming more in-depth than ever.
Plastics News reported that a recent Freedonia Group study saw demand for pharmaceutical packaging products in the United States projected to increase by nearly 5 percent annually over the next five years, with the value of the market rising to a new total of more than $22 billion in 2018. Two-thirds of that growth will be represented by primary containers, while the rest will be represented by closures, secondary containers and packaging.
"Led by prefillable syringes, vials, and premixed IV systems, parenteral containers will post the fastest growth in both revenue and unit demand as new injectable and infusion therapies based on biotechnology and other advanced life sciences are introduced into the marketplace," said analyst Bill Martineau, according to the press release.
Freedonia added that plastic bottles will continue to represent the largest demand among primary pharmaceutical containers, with the leading industry competitor being represented by blister packaging, which will be found most often in solid oral drug applications.
Researchers expect that one of the highest points of specific demand will be from pre-fillable inhalers. This aspect of the market has been predicted to rise faster than competing containers, as the devices will be used for more than just asthma therapies. Increasingly, they're being used for COPD and insulin treatments as well.
Though demand will be high throughout the industry, some market segments will have struggles. Freedonia predicted that glass pharmaceutical bottles will see lowered demand. Conversely, dispensing closures, parenteral stoppers, labeling enhanced by security procedures and intelligent components will all see fast revenue growth in turn.
Technological developments
A recent press release from Gerresheimer speaks to the larger-scale developments that may come from this increased focus on the pharmaceutical industry's developments. Companies everywhere are striving to increase the quality and accessibility of their products, and the press release shows that they're doing so with everything from simple pharmaceutical vials to complex drug delivery systems.
One example comes from Gerresheimer syringe systems, which have increasingly complex and varied requirements in the healthcare market. Many companies, as a result, are working to develop intricate and detailed means to expand the uses and effectiveness of their systems, in an attempt to better ensure their long-term production has nothing but positive effects over time.
Customized plastic systems are also gaining new attention, as companies work to develop better drug delivery systems for easy and simple applications of medical technology, including inhalers, pens, syringes, analysis systems, skin-prick aids and lancets that are meant to help diabetic patients.
Plastic containers and closures, meanwhile, have product portfolios that can help contain solid and liquid pharmaceuticals alike. They are often developed for both liquid and solid drugs. Many have higher break-resistances than glass, which increases their overall safety, and they're fine for many products no matter what their acidity range or formulations may be. In some cases, these plastic cases are specifically meant to improve for drugs that otherwise attack the surface of a glass, which is known to cause particles to form.
Other instances include high-quality injection and infusion bottles, dropper and tablet bottles and primary glass packaging made from different types of molded glass, which can be shaped into a wide variety of vials, ampoules and cartridges for better long-term development.
