48NOTICIAS I NEWS Los firmantes se suman también a la declaración europea sobre la información electrónica de productos (ePI), publicada el 15 de noviembre de 2024, promovida por las organizaciones europeas de médicos, farmacéuticos, consumidores, personas mayores, etc. en la que se solicita a los legisladores conservar el prospecto en papel y utilizar el electrónico como herramienta complementaria. Pharmaceutical product packaging is one of the sectors experiencing the most innovation, especially in the early stages of the development process. One of the areas generating the most opportunities in the pharmaceutical packaging sector is biologics and their specialized cold chain requirements and specific delivery needs. Research is also opening up new avenues for more sustainable products, but legislation must enforce and harmonize pharmaceutical sustainability. The study also notes that drawing inspiration from other industries, such as cosmetics and mass-market consumer goods, could drive innovation in pharmaceutical packaging. The pharmaceutical supply chain remains a complex network, especially with the BioSecure Act and tariffs affecting collaborations worldwide. A key driver for new forms of packaging is responding to the growing demand for certain therapeutic products. In the injector and pen markets, there is significant innovation around dosage flexibility: having a platform for different vials, either to save materials or to make them reusable. This also influences the consideration of end-of-life uses, recovery, and recycling of materials if they have not been in contact with the drug. Innovations in self-medication, both in packaging and drug administration, are increasingly important. There is a new wave of products coming to market with a high self-medication component, driving innovation, especially in injection pens. This is partly due to their ease of use, which is essential for an aging population. Furthermore, the rise of orphan drugs, which often require specialized formulations for rare diseases, drives the need for customized pharmaceutical packaging solutions that ensure stability and regulatory compliance for small-batch production. Likewise, modified-release oral formulations require specialized blisters to protect them from moisture, oxygen, and light. Pharmacy 5.0 The digitalization of the pharmaceutical supply chain remains a hot topic for the entire industry, and pharmaceutical packaging is no exception, as the report notes. While automation in pharmaceutical packaging is not new, the rise of technologies around artificial intelligence and machine learning is generating new awareness about how technology can drive innovation in pharmaceutical packaging. CPHI/Pharmapack's "Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Outlook 2025" report also highlights that AI-based digital technologies can also help both patients and companies, including: 1. Smart packaging to improve patient adherence. Connected packaging: QR codes, NFC tags, or RFID chips can provide patients with instant access to digital brochures, instructional videos, or adherence reminders. Electronic dose tracking: Smart pill bottles and blister packs equipped with sensors can track medication usage and send alerts to patients or caregivers to reduce missed doses. 2. AI-Driven Supply Chain Optimization Demand Forecasting: AI-powered predictive analytics can optimize production planning and reduce shortages by accurately forecasting demand. Counterfeit Detection: AI-enhanced trackand-trace solutions help authenticate products throughout the supply chain, preventing fraud and ensuring patient safety. 3. Personalized, Patient-Centric Packaging AI-Driven Personalization: Personalized packaging solutions, such as dosage-specific packaging for individualized therapies, can improve patient outcomes. User-Friendly Designs: AI-assisted design can help develop more ergonomic and userfriendly drug delivery devices tailored to specific patient needs (e.g., older adults or those with dexterity difficulties). 4. Advanced Drug Delivery Devices Wearable devices with integrated AI: Smart injectors or patches that adjust doses in real time based on patient data can improve treatment effectiveness. Remote Monitoring: Connected inhalers or insulin pens can collect usage data, providing clinicians with information to adapt treatment plans. 5. Sustainability and Waste Reduction Smart Inventory Management: AI-based information can help reduce packaging waste by optimizing material use and reducing excess inventory. Eco-friendly packaging design: AI can model and simulate new sustainable materials, accelerating the transition to greener packaging solutions. Eco-design In a framework proposed by ISPE, known as Sustainability by Design (SbD), life cycle assessment data and eco-design principles are used to inform and guide decisions about product design, including packaging. Within the SbD framework, with up to 80% of a given product's environmental impact occurring during the development phase, it is clear that identifying sustainable and cost-effective packaging solutions must occur early in the drug development process. There is strong pressure to use as little PVC as possible, even though it is a very economical and durable material, as well as a clear trend toward monomaterials, as they are necessary for recyclability. This, coupled with legislation, has driven a large number of monomaterial blister packs. Packaging and drug delivery device companies are already implementing new strategies related to emissions, material selection, packaging design and administration, and recyclability and recycled content. Synergies and Collaborations With M&A activity dominating pharmaceutical industry news in 2024, continued collaboration agreements or new mergers are likely. Packaging companies that experienced landmark mergers or acquisitions include Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, and Amcor's acquisition of Berry Global. As the report notes, to address various
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