Navigating the Latest Trends in Pharmaceutical Excipient Procurement

Excipients play a principal, multifaceted role in pharmaceutical drug formulations. Procurement of excipients is often considered an intricate process as it involves multiple channels and demands rigorous validation. In this blog, we have curated some of the emerging trends in pharmaceutical excipient procurement and how suppliers and drug manufacturers can keep pace with the developments.

---

1. High demand for novel excipients

Drug manufacturers are on a spree to customize formulations to meet specific patient needs and personalized healthcare demands. The demand for innovative excipients and branded drugs put the US manufacturers on the top.

So, excipient suppliers and manufacturers must invest more in the research and development of novel excipients, chemically modified grade excipients, multi-functional excipients, and co-processed excipients to meet the industry demands.

For instance, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. and Promius Pharma, LLC received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for TOSYMRA, the nasal spray used to treat migraine. It is formulated using a novel excipient, ‘Inravail’, which helps achieve blood levels akin to a 4- mg sumatriptan subcutaneous injection. Drug manufacturers are looking for such novel excipients to be able to cater to the demands of healthcare needs.

2. Demonstrate regulatory compliance

Regulatory requirements for excipient supply and procurement are constantly evolving. Procurement teams attach paramount importance to audit and compliance checks as quality plays a crucial role in assuring the safety of medicines. They are seeking reliable suppliers with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and adherence to international regulatory norms. Excipient suppliers must use advanced analytical tools and techniques for quality control and compliance monitoring. Doing so helps avoid counterfeit excipients and substandard medicines, and boosts their credibility among drug manufacturers.

3. Enhanced transparency

In the complex landscape of pharmaceutical excipient procurement, these pivotal challenges stand out, each posing its unique set of hurdles:

For instance, IPEC (International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council), which represents excipient producers, suppliers, and end-users, has introduced one-up-one-down traceability, meaning pharma companies must be able to trace the origin of their supplies.

So, excipient suppliers should work on striking a balance between traceability and protecting trade secrets.

4. High demand for novel excipients

Traditional channels for supplying and sourcing excipients were unorganized and involved middlemen. Today, with deeper penetration of digital channels, drug manufacturers have started sourcing through tech platforms. For excipient suppliers to reach wide manufacturers and boost their revenue, a strong digital presence is a must.

5. Instant sourcing of excipients

Procurement teams of drug manufacturers are increasingly relying on digital platforms to source excipients just in time and minimize inventory costs. Digitization has enabled them to access even the rarest excipients in a few clicks. This helps mitigate delays and develop drugs within the timeframe.

E-procurement platforms streamline the process, enhance visibility into the process, and promote timely delivery of excipients. Excipient suppliers must leverage the next-generation tech platforms to venture beyond geographies and expand their market.

6. Net zero excipients

Top pharma companies have committed to achieving net zero targets before 2050, which in turn ramps up the demand for net zero excipients. Excipient procurement teams in drug manufacturing firms have consciously started looking for high-quality, well-functioning excipients that do not add to waste and emissions in their supply chain.

Some companies expect excipient suppliers to document their sustainability efforts and strategies.

7. Clean label excipients

The conscious customers of today seek clean-label pharmaceutical products with pharmacopoeia labelled organic excipients. Drug manufacturers look for more organic formulations on the one hand and enhanced traceability on the other. So, there is a greater demand for organic excipients.

8. Cost-effective excipients

Given the highly competitive marketplace, drug manufacturers are exploring cost-effective, high-quality excipients. Digitization has made it possible for companies to source from a wide range of suppliers and prioritize cost optimization. To navigate this, excipient suppliers must invest in cost-minimization strategies that help them gain a competitive advantage and achieve economies of scale.

The excipient manufacturers must leverage automation to optimize production costs and embrace technology to reach more markets.

Wrapping up,

Clyzo is a one-stop, leading e-commerce platform for premium, complexexcipients and pharma ingredients. The platform simplifies procurement by providing efficient and transparent experience from search to delivery. We help excipient suppliers leverage digital platforms and modern distribution channels and venture into new markets to evolve as international players.

With analytics and knowledge from technical experts, Clyzo enables global pharma companies to boost productivity, efficiency, and regulatory guidance.

For more information, visit https://www.clyzo.com/

---