And, surprisingly, packaging can help meet them. A decade ago, packaging was often an afterthought for many companies, viewed as merely the final step in manufacturing. But now, drug makers are considering packaging earlier in development. They are looking to packaging and labeling as mediums to promote their products, increase patient compliance, and meet recent regulations. Drug makers are putting more pressure than ever on packaging service and material suppliers to keep costs down, forcing them to become more efficient.
Many suppliers have undergone mergers or acquisitions in recent years in order to stay competitive.
Some costs are growing, particularly with new products, so that puts pressure on older products to keep flat or reduce their packaging costs. Despite the pressure on drug packagers to keep costs down, the demand for packaging is on the rise. In addition, organizations such as the Flexible Packaging Association and the Automated Imaging Association have identified pharmaceutical packaging as one of their fastest-growing segments. Blisters are the largest segment of the market, followed by blow-molded plastic containers, ampules and vials, caps and closures, tubes, accessories, and glass, according to the study. Such misuse can cause a range of adverse drug reactions, including death.