The European pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery event has released a report ahead of the 2019 conference. The last two years have seen a highly successful period for FDA approvals, consequently, the next five have been predicted to be equally successful for drug delivery and packaging.
The overall increase in biologics in Europe is predicted to result in drug delivery and packaging innovation by many smaller companies. Though experts express concern that small companies may encounter problems with scaling-up their prototypes to the commercial level.
This dilemma is likely to be taken advantage of by larger companies that will look to make licensing partnerships and acquisitions.
Technology trends
The trends that small companies are expected to invest in are newer delivery techniques and technologies to help patients to self-administer drugs.
Commenting on the report, Andy Fry, Founder of Team Consulting, said “The balance between sales of ‘conventional’ and ‘biologic’ drugs have shifted progressively over the past few years. Given that virtually all biologics are parenterally delivered, the majority of these self-administered, the strong demand for wearable delivery devices, autoinjectors and pens, as well as pre-filled syringes and dual chamber products, is expected to continue in 2019.”
Self-administration of drugs would reduce the overall cost burden on the public and private healthcare sectors due to a reduction in medical supervision necessitated.
New delivery techniques encompassed auto-injectors and digital technologies across the internet of medical things.
Drugs for self-administration included pre-filled doses, needle-free delivery and smart apps to monitor dosing and time of delivery.
The European Market
In the ‘drug delivery innovation’ rankings, Germany was the leading nation in Europe, followed by France, Switzerland and the UK.
However, the future of these rankings was under discussion due to the potential effect of Brexit. Possibly shifting the therapeutic industry from the UK to Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.