Three Trends Observed at Pharmapack 2024

Last week, the Systech team had the opportunity to attend Pharmapack 2024 in Paris, France. This event, attracting over 5,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors, is a pivotal trendsetter for the European pharmaceutical industry. This year, three key trends particularly stood out, each likely to significantly influence the future of pharmaceutical packaging.

Combating Counterfeits

Combating counterfeiting is high on the agenda this year. Counterfeit drugs present a severe risk to patient safety, lead to considerable financial losses for manufacturers, and undermine brand credibility. The recent surge in counterfeit Ozempic for weight loss has raised serious concerns in Europe—the fight against counterfeit demands collective action across the pharmaceutical industry.

Under the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), all prescription drugs sold in the European Union are required to have an anti-tampering solution and a unique identifier, both machine- and human-readable. With serialization, each item is tracked and traced with a unique code throughout its journey in the supply chain, from manufacturer to end user.

Furthermore, to combat counterfeiting and diversion effectively, pharmaceutical manufacturers should consider additional protection layers, such as digital fingerprinting. This approach allows for non-replicable solutions that can work with existing packaging.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can help detect inconsistencies in the supply chain, highlighting possible instances of counterfeits. Anti-counterfeiting solutions are critical in safeguarding the medicinal drugs supply chain. Implementing these advanced tools ensures product quality and patient safety while minimizing revenue loss.

Well-Being and Holistic Health

At Pharmapack and beyond, we've observed a rising consumer demand for wellness and holistic health. People increasingly spend on products that enhance their health, nutrition, appearance, sleep, and mindfulness. McKinsey research indicates that the global wellness market is now just under €1.5 trillion, growing 5 to 10 percent annually. This market shift is expected to bring more technology-focused, personalized, and interconnected wellness solutions, necessitating improved visibility across the supply chain.

Health-conscious consumers seek a deeper understanding of product origins and ingredient sources. Industry 4.0 paves the way for enhanced visibility, facilitating precise tracking and tracing of products throughout the supply chain, from ingredients, raw material sources, and manufacturing to end-use, including dosing and disposal. Consumers are increasingly using QR codes to help them in these efforts. Supply chain visibility ensures consumers can trust the authenticity, quality, and safety of their purchases.

Sustainability across the Supply Chain

Sustainability was a dominant theme throughout Pharmapack, from conference discussions to individual consultations. The industry is increasingly focusing on enhancing the circular economy. This shift is driven by the need to comply with evolving governmental regulations and to meet growing consumer expectations.

A notable challenge discussed among attendees was aligning sustainability goals with the complexities of the modern supply chain. There's growing scrutiny from consumers, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies on the environmental impact of businesses. They demand transparency across the supply chain – from raw material sourcing to final product delivery.

Advanced technologies now offer end-to-end visibility, enabling precise tracking and tracing of products.  Good manufacturing processes and smart packaging, e.g., replacement of physical anti-tamper packaging with digital technologies, minimize waste and inefficiencies. Automation via Industry 4.0 reduces the carbon footprint as well. Companies increasingly choose to work with suppliers who prioritize sustainability and have reduced their carbon footprint.

These solutions also play a crucial role in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, ensuring businesses comply with environmental standards and avoid penalties. In an era where consumer trust is paramount, real-time tracking capabilities are vital in verifying product authenticity and origins, thus fostering consumer confidence and loyalty.

Collaborative efforts are essential in advancing sustainable practices throughout the supply chain ecosystem. By adopting advanced track and trace tools, companies are enhancing transparency. Such actions contribute to a more sustainable future and position businesses for long-term success in a world where sustainability and supply chain efficiency are closely intertwined.

About Systech

Systech provides digital identification and traceability solutions that deliver essential product data, ensure digital connectivity, and enable real-time insights on the packaging line and throughout the supply chain. With decades of experience in pharmaceutical packaging execution and serialization, Systech offers comprehensive, easily configured, turnkey software solutions with reliable implementation and expert support.

Global brands across industries rely on Systech’s platform to help them achieve their objectives in compliance, brand protection, resiliency and digital transformation. Systech is a leading brand of Markem-Imaje®, a global product identification, packaging intelligence and connected product solutions provider and a part of Dover Corporation.

About the author

Remi Turbet Delof is responsible for helping Systech customers navigate the complex world of serialization. He boasts over eight years of experience in the Track & Trace sector and his work spans multiple countries, including Algeria, Morocco, Switzerland, Belgium and France. Remi's approach is tailored to meet the unique demands of each project, ensuring successful outcomes even in the face of challenging constraints. His expertise lies not only in meeting regulatory requirements but also in enhancing operational efficiency and product security.