Playter: What are some ways Bormioli Pharma attempts to stand out from its competitors in the pharma packaging market?

Lodetti: Bormioli Pharma is one of the few pharma packaging partners able to globally supply containment solutions, including bottles, closures, and accessories for a wide range of pharmaceutical products. Thanks to a broad multi-technological platform, we are also able to manufacture all these products in various materials, including glass, all types of plastics, rubber, and aluminum.

Bormioli Pharma also prioritizes sustainability, which has been an area of active research and implementation for us for over 15 years. This robust commitment has resulted in one of the widest sustainable packaging offerings available for the pharma industry – our EcoPositive range, which includes recycled glass and plastic bottles and caps, bio-based containers, and bottles coming from the recovery of CO 2 emissions. To support a quick and effective shift in the adoption of these sustainable packaging solutions, we provide extractable analysis and LCA studies demonstrating safety and positive environmental impact of our products.

Playter: Are there any key trends occurring in the larger bio/pharma market that you’re keeping an eye on? Does anything stick out as something more people should be paying attention to?

Lodetti: According to the latest IQVIA data, biologics continue to grow at a higher pace than non-biologics while revenues from unbranded generics (even if they still represent an important market share, particularly in the case of high-end products) continue to decrease despite rising prescription rates. Moreover, in 2023 specialty product growth outpaced traditional product growth, driven by immunology, oncology, and anti-diabetic sectors (1).

All these medicines feature high requirements in terms of packaging, pushing companies like ours to continuously invest in terms of new technologies, product safety, and consultancy capabilities. With R&D being even more accelerated and pivotal to the pharma industry, packaging partners must keep the pace, going beyond mere product supply and offering a set of packaging-related services, whilst accompanying pharma customers in novel drug product developments.

Attending major industry conferences in the US, I was struck by the limited focus dedicated to sustainability. As it is becoming a major imperative for our future, I believe it should be prioritized in the agendas of all the players across the pharma supply chain, including packaging suppliers, logistic players and pharma companies themselves. This is especially relevant in the pharma industry, which is inherently committed to creating value for everyone by impacting universal health and long-term well- being. Therefore, it is well-suited to embrace a purpose-driven approach.

Playter: Have there been any novel developments that have recently occurred in the pharma packaging space?

Lodetti: As in many other industries, AI is disrupting the sector, opening new paths for process optimization, automatization, and product advancements. As of today, the most common field of application for AI within the pharma packaging industry are quality controls and predictive maintenance. In the first case, intelligent algorithms are used to optimize the quality of our products, by analyzing large amounts of data in real time, progressively fine tuning the applied parameters and improving the precision of quality checks. In the second case, packaging machinery is equipped with sensors enabling various parameters to be observed in real time, and thus, increasing the monitoring capability. This application of AI betters work management, reduces downtime, and consequently promotes cost optimization while preventing upcoming maintenance needs.

If we consider future scenarios, we must mention the application of AI to connected packaging devices, which – being a bridge between the medication and the patient – can be a crucial element to collect useful data for improving the patient experience and providing personalized instructions. In the last five years, at Bormioli Pharma we have been working on the connectivity of our devices, and thus, on their possible integration with AI-based systems. We are now in the phase of discussing the developed prototypes with world-leading pharma companies and evaluating future evolutions.

Broadening the perspective beyond AI and embracing the challenge of packaging innovation, we advocate for initiating discussions on new packaging systems early in the drug development process, specifically between Phases I and II. This would allow for the introduction of more efficient, accessible medicines to the market in shorter time frames, ensuring that essential drug products reach the areas where they are needed the most. This is exactly what we do through our ‘Invents’ innovation platform, a space for co-development aimed at turning emerging healthcare needs into tangible packaging solutions.

Playter: Broadly speaking, and taking into consideration the global biopharma landscape, how do you view the current state of the pharma packaging industry? How is Bormioli looking to strategically position itself for the future?

Lodetti: As reported by Grand View Research, the global pharmaceutical packaging market size is valued at USD 139.37 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is a direct consequence of the positive trend of the pharma industry and is differentiated for geographical area, with US and Europe regions dominating the market, respectively with 49.9% and 23.4% 1 market share in 2023 (2).

Given this market scenario, at Bormioli Pharma, we are pursuing a development strategy mainly based on five key growth drivers:

• Consolidating capabilities on core products by continuing to invest in and increase capabilities of our best-selling items.
• Reinforcing positioning in high-added value segments, such as parenterals, and niche products.
• Increasing penetration in leading global pharmaceutical markets, such as North America and the Far East.
• Prioritizing innovation and sustainability, recognizing the pivotal role the pharmaceutical industry plays in creating value for society through innovation and sustainability.
• Expanding through further M&A initiatives, consistently with the above strategic guidelines.

Playter: Do you have any bold predictions about the future of pharma ten years down the line?

Lodetti: Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry experienced a significant surge in growth, leading to a reevaluation and transformation of existing models. This circumstance brought out some important issues, and among others, I believe three of them are crucial for the future of pharma.

First, accessible health. We all know that certain populations across the world face reduced access to healthcare providers, treatment, and health education. In order to reduce this inequity, in the future it will be essential to redesign patient support programs to reach and include the most vulnerable people, also by leveraging on the capabilities of the whole pharma supply chain.

Second, new models for launch success. The pandemic reframed the winning models for new drug product launches, suggesting the need for shorter timing and more effective processes. Finding a new way to launch success will be essential.

Third, the evolution of care delivery. Soon, patient care will no longer be something happening only inside hospital walls, but it will take place in new, more informal spaces. In line with this upcoming trend, the pharma industry will need to respond with new care delivery systems, promoting patient autonomy and care delocalization, particularly, through digitalization.

With issues of such a magnitude, the necessity of a constant evolution in the pharma packaging industry is self-evident, highlighting now more than ever the importance of a co-partnership approach with our pharma customers.

References

1. IQVIA, IQVIA Forecast Link 2024 Accessed March 2024.
2. Grand View Research. Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboard, Glass, Aluminum Foil, and Others), By Product, By Drug Delivery Mode, By End-use, By Regions, And Segment Forecasts, 2024 – 2030. Accessed March 2024.