Future Lies in Continuous Manufacturing Technology But What Do the Global Regulators and Pharmacopeias Have to Say?
Pharmaceutical manufacturing has traditionally been seen as a manufacturing sector lagging behind in technological innovation. Due to its highly regulated nature and resource concerns, pharma manufacturers have been hesitant to disrupt everyday manufacturing operations to introduce new technologies.
According to a January 2019 report, the emerging technologies that characterize Industry 4.0—connectivity, advanced analytics, robotics and automation—have the potential to revolutionize every element of pharmaceutical manufacturing within the next five to ten years (1).
In recent years, pharmaceutical manufacturing leaders have been exploring new and innovative technical solutions to achieve better quality, improve productivity and operational efficiency and increase process throughput and yields. Advancements in technologies such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, machine learning, 3-D printing, precision medicine, automation, and augmented and virtual reality will shape the future of pharma.