New Challenges in Pharmaceutical Packaging sector

With an ageing population and the growth of emerging economies across the world, the pharmaceutical sector is booming. Research business IMS predicts that the global pharmaceutical industry will reach sales of as much as $1.2tn by 2017 – representing annual growth of 3%-6% and, crucially, a growing market for pharmaceutical packaging suppliers and contract packers.

Yet it is a market that brings particular challenges, and particular opportunities, to those packaging suppliers and packers operating within it, not least the regulatory environment, which is complex and becoming more so. New regulations – notably the EU Falsified Medicines Directive, which requires every individual pack to carry a unique serial number – are posing new challenges to the supply chain both for product and packaging.

Chris Penfold, CEO of Design Cognition, along with a number of other industry experts recently took part in a Packaging News and Essentra roundtable discussion looking at the wide range of issues facing players in the pharmaceutical packaging segment.

You can find a more in-depth transcript of the discussion here:

Packaging News – Tough Talking – Pharmaceutical Packaging

or a short video ‘taster’ by clicking on the photo of Chris to take you to the YouTube video.

If you would like help and advice on any of these or other issues further and would like to contact Chris, please send an email via enquiries@designcognition.com or via phone on +44 (0)115 846 1914.

Great to see Unilever doing so well despite the current market conditions.  Just goes to show that it’s still possible to find new markets.

To read more follow the link to Cosmetics Design Europe

That is a large fall in profits and although it was based against a very good 2008 so a fall was expected it still doesn’t do anything to build confidence in the business.  It will be interesting to see what they do now, will they cancel any innovations they have in the pipeline to save money or will they go all out on innovation to try and push profits back up?(Jane)

Profits fell by one third for global beauty provider Beiersdorf as European consumers cut back on their beauty spend during 2009. In the face of the tough economic conditions, the company reported provisional figures showing that net income fell from €567m in 2008 to €379m, a fall of 33 per cent.

via Beiersdorf 2009 profit hit by sales downturn.

By Katie Bird , 10-Sep-2009

Related topics: Financial

Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble expects to return to organic sales growth by the end of the year after reporting two quarters of organic sales declines.

Last month the company released its quarterly figures for the period ending June 30 and net sales dropped by 11 percent, although much of this was attributed to currency effects.

via P&G acts with ‘urgency’ to return to organic sales growth.

By Simon Pitman, 30-Jul-2009 www.cosmeticsdesign.com

Avon has announced a 65 drop in profits as charges for its tough restructuring program bites into the company’s bottom line.

The company’s quarterly sales were also hit hard by unfavorable currency exchange, as the US dollar continued to be strong against international currencies.

via Restructuring costs hit Avon second quarter profits.

By Simon Pitman, 30-Jul-2009  www.cosmeticsdesign.com

Lower costs boost second quarter profits for soap and toothpaste maker Colgate-Palmolive, despite the fact that global sales fell on the strength of the dollar.

Net earnings rose by 14 percent to $561.6m, a figure that was boosted by the fact that it had been hit by significant restructuring charges in the corresponding period last year.

via Colgate profits rise on lower costs despite fall in sales.