Supporting The Rapid Launch Of Pharmaceutical And Biopharma Products: A Contract Packaging Perspective

By Dan Stehn, Director of Injectable Packaging, and Jeffrey Benedict, Chief Commercial Officer

Product launches see pharma and biotech companies handing over drugs with incredible value, both commercially and to the health of patients globally, to contract packaging partners. Many of the virtual and small biotech companies simply lack the infrastructure necessary to handle packaging and large pharma companies tend to outsource as contract service providers offer experience and significant surge capacity for short or extended periods of time.

One of the primary goals for every drug launch is expediency. From the moment a drug receives regulatory approval, the countdown begins to get products packed and shipped to ensure that patients receive much needed therapies as soon as possible.

In every product launch, it is vital that both parties collaboratively establish and agree on parameters and expectations – scales, timings and special requirements all need to be discussed in detail. Sharp’s approach is to establish a cross-functional team with varied expertise for an initial project launch. It’s important that objectives are communicated as early as possible which allows the teams to establish a work plan with milestones that will ensure agreed objectives and deadlines are met. To this end, getting visibility of a launch as early as possible is vital.