A market research project on the demand of plastic packaging for pharmaceutical products conducted by Frost & Sullivan, has concluded that new drugs and formulations would provide the catalytic growth to plastic packaging all over the World but more so in the developed economies. In fact, US is expected to increase its pharmaceutical packaging for plastic end products from a level of US$2.6 billion in 2004 to US$3.4 billion in 2011, showing a healthy annual growth of about 4%. This growth is higher compared to the GDP growth and therefore should be considered as very positive for plastic packaging in pharmaceuticals. This growth is essentially attributed to newer types of products both in bulk drug category as well as in formulations.

Drug delivery systems such as nasal sprays, inhalers, trans dermal patches and oral ingestion are redefining the market. Nasal sprays and inhalers are likely to contribute to almost one-fourth of the revenue growth in the near future. Biologic drugs and quick dissolving tablets are increasing the need for high barrier packages. A shift from vials and ampoules to pre filled syringes has been seen because of their ease of use and convenience.
Biologics-based drugs � which are particularly sensitive to moisture, oxygen and light � require high barrier packages, and this is driving up the adoption of blister packaging, which is widely used in Europe but is less popular in the US. The market share of blister packaging will also rise on the back of increasing recognition of the positive impact it can have on patient compliance.

The growth in the pharmaceutical packaging market is being buoyed by an increase in the acquisitions of existing companies by new entrants, as well as increasing prescription scripts, resulting in growth in unit pharmaceutical sales. The rise in the ageing population is stimulating demand for packages that are simultaneously convenient for elders to handle and are child-resistant.

The pharmaceutical manufacturers and converters are concentrating on down-gauging, as well as reducing package thickness and raw material consumption, without compromising on the product quality, and by improving the processes and technologies implemented. Cost reduction gains greater importance among pharmaceutical companies as there is a drop in the number of expected blockbuster drugs in the pipeline and many of drugs are going off patent.