With increased use of biologics driving the change, the world pharma packaging market is predicted to rise 5.3 per cent to more than $47bn (€33.3bn) in 2013. The rising importance of biologics in the pharma industry is predicted to have knock-on effects on the packaging sector, with prefillable syringes and parenteral vials the growth areas.
Syringe tips, vial stoppers and flip-top vial closures are also predicted to benefit from rising usage of injectable biologics to treat emergency care chronic disease indications. Strong growth is also predicted for pharmaceutical pouches, which will benefit from increased unit dose packaging of transdermal patches, powders for reconstitution and topical creams and ointments.
Adaptability to unit dose formats will also help blister packaging, with the formats capacity for expanded label content, high visibility and built-in track and trace features also helping. The growth in the pouch and blister packaging for unit doses is predicted to have a detrimental effect on child-resistant caps, which will remain the top closures for oral and liquid containers but lose momentum.
Plastics are also predicted to have below average growth but will still be the material of choice for oral drugs distributed in bulk and prescription dose volumes. In addition plastic bottles will remain the most common packaging for over-the-counter tablets and capsules quantities of more than 50.
Paperboard boxes will lead the market for secondary packaging, underpinned by the marketing and security benefits they offer.
China leads growth
China, India and Brazil are the regions the Freedonia report has slated for strong growth, although Europe, the US and Japan will continue to account for nearly 75 per cent of the market. Growth in China will be underpinned by the rapid expansion in manufacturing capabilities and the government's efforts to improve the quality and integrity of nationally produced medicines.
India and China are in a similar situation, with improvement and diversification of the nations' pharma industries, in particular the rise of generic ethical drugs, supporting strong growth.
-In-Pharma Technologist.com