An eye to the future

Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time..

Bill Gates

Sometimes the speed of progress is amazing. A decade ago mobile phones were for making phone calls and photographs had to be developed. Press releases came by post and if you wanted to communicate with someone in the same office you went to their desk and actually spoke to them.

The pharma industry too has changed significantly. In 1997 competition from India and China was negligible, very few activities were outsourced and most big companies had several potential blockbusters in their pipelines.

Today, the blockbuster mentality is disappearing and the focus is moving towards developing and manufacturing drugs more quickly, more efficiently and more cost-effectively. Innovation is as important as ever, but is now recognised across the entire pharmaceutical value chain, not just confined to the inner sanctum of the laboratory.

I am therefore very pleased to reveal that Manufacturing Chemist is to be the exclusive media partner for the CPhI Innovation Awards. Over the coming months both in print and on the website we will bring you news about the Awards and how to get your development recognised by your peers in the industry. And after the event we will be reviewing the winning innovations as well as other highlights from CPhI, ICSE and P-MEC.

Innovation is the lifeblood of the pharmaceutical industry and has always featured prominently in the pages of Manufacturing Chemist, so we are delighted to be able to work with CMPi, the organisers of CPhI and the Innovation Awards, to ensure that the products, processes and technologies of tomorrow get the recognition they deserve today.