Next Issue

September 2010
Here are some of the articles coming up in the next issue of World Pharmaceuticals Frontiers.

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The news behind the news
A review of the major news stories of the last six months and what they mean for the industry.

Delivering change
The drug delivery market is one of evolution and innovation. New methods of administering drugs can lead drug manufacturers to develop new treatments for an array of ailments. GlobalData looks at the current state of the market, its development and asks what the short to mid term future might hold.

Looking ahead
The recent economic turmoil has led to a number of dramatic shifts within the business of pharmaceuticals. Buyouts, increased M&A activity and the resurrection of the so-called 'mega-merger' were all bywords for the last 12 months. Deloitte surveys the business climate and tries to nail down where the next big development will be.

Concept to design
Drug discovery is a matter of trial and error. However, fate is most certainly not the final piece to the puzzle. Expertise is an essential ingredient and is something on display everyday within this sector. But fate and expertise alone don't result in a new blockbuster drugs coming to market. Technology plays a key part. Innovations within the lab usually stem from innovations in lab technology. In this special report Dr. Kun Liu, principal scientist at Wyeth Research, investigates where the new thinking is coming from and ask how important it is for labs, and there suppliers, to be continually striving to better the tools available.

The right business environment
Sustainability is a word commonly used within industry these days. The pharmaceutical industry, only in recent years known for its push to become environmentally conscious, has long been seen as a concern. But now big pharma is showing real signs of becoming more aware, both environmentally and socially, and is actively taking steps to develop practices that make a real difference. James R. Hagan, vice president, sustainability and environment at GSK, talks us through the good work of his organisation to be more environmentally aware and debates the moves taken by the wider industry, offering some practical advice.

An age old problem?
A recent EU-funded project revealed that clinical trials were less likely to be performed on the elderly despite this group taking the majority of pharmaceutical products approved. Why is this the case, what does it mean for the collection of effective clinical data and how should Pharma and CROs work to put it right? Dr Gary Mills, director of Medical Economics and Research Centre, and one of the co-ordinators of the project, looks to answer these questions.

Packing a punch
Processing and primary, that has been the question for the pharmaceutical packaging sector for some time. This issue of what function packaging fulfils has been open to debate and the cause of many disagreements in the past. Chuck Reed, chairman of ISPE, tries to unmask the differences in this distinction and provide some clarity on this increasingly divisive yet crucial issue.

A new package
The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most regulated in the world with regulators both individually and collectively placing requirements upon manufacturers. To this end packaging within the sector is no different. The new readability guidelines are due to come into force in 2010 and will signal a dramatic change in the way packaging is produced. In this special report Klaus Mengers, director of the Federal Institute for Drug and Medical Devices investigates the work that has led to the new framework and what steps pharma should be taking to ensure compliance with just a few months to go.

Securing the supply
Latin America is concentrating the minds of many logistics managers. The recent armed attacks on GSK shipments in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil have served to highlight this pressing issue. What steps should pharmaceuticals be taking both within their logistics planning and practical steps on the ground to try and secure their shipments from an increasingly confident foe? Andrew Jackson, head of global security at Novartis, investigates.

Keeping cool
Keeping vaccines stable without refrigeration has long been the bane of the pharmaceutical sector. But now a team of scientists at Oxford University believe they have discovered a way of doing it and hope it could raise the possibility of immunisations programmes in areas where fridges, clinics and electricity supply cannot be taken for granted. Professor Adrian Hill, who headed the research project, explains his work and his hopes for this new technique in developing countries.

Knowing what you want
An essential element of any pharma company's success is the ability to maintain scientific excellence. Finding the best ideas, practices, tools, and talent can be a moving target, leading to new and different kinds of partnerships. Christer Köhler, VP Global Discovery, Central Nervous System and Pain at AstraZeneca offers some advice.

The top 20 pharma companies
GlobalData takes a look at the world's leading 20 pharmaceutical companies: by turnover; sales; and employees.

A raw issue
Regulation within pharma is the cornerstone of the industry. When things go wrong regulation tries to put it right. However, as the sector becomes increasingly diversified, both the result of markets opening up and new technologies, the regulation of raw materials is something that has received much interest in recent times, the result of the growing influence of Asia. Susan Keitel of EDQM investigates the issue of raw material regulation and how international standards are evolving.

Deal beaters
A look at the latest M&A activity within the medical device sector.

Viking valour
The Scandinavian pharmaceutical sector has enjoyed a period of sustained growth in recent years. The mix of smaller, more niche companies and the bigger global leaders is the result of a flourishing business landscape. In this special GlobalData reviews the drivers and asks how other companies can get involved.

Embracing the motherboard
The use of IT has undoubtedly changed many business practices. Although now not new its evolution continues to have an impact on the way we work. But what impact has it had on pharma and in particular manufacturing; how can industry better embrace IT in this field and what are the next big developments? Mike Randolph, senior director of manufacturing operations at Teva Pharmaceuticals, shares his thoughts.