Understanding Pharmaceutical Technology

Pharmatech uses new, state-of-the-art technologies to revolutionize every step of the pharmaceutical development process, including patient outreach, research, data collection/analysis and production. Before we get into the details, it’s helpful to know where it all started. #BlastFromThePast

Look, we don’t want to bore you with five centuries of drug development factoids but we need to go back to the Middle Ages for this one. We promise we’ll be brief!

Side note: there’s an actual taxonomy around the production of pharmaceuticals. It’s called “galenic” – the process that turns an active ingredient into a medicine that can be used and dosed appropriately (after safety and efficacy have been tested).
 

• Middle-Ages

  Monastic pharmacies cultivated gardens as the source of the raw medicinal materials used to create treatments and remedies. It was all exceptionally low tech and likely involved lots of eyeballing, weeding and boiling cauldrons. The first pharmacopeia (a list of medicinal drugs and chemicals with preparation directions) appeared around 1546.

• 1800s

  The modern era of pharmaceuticals took hold in the 19^th century which included galenic - the purification of compounds, chemical synthesis and drug development.

• 1900s

  Pharmaceutical development expanded to include the fields of chemistry and physiology which transformed the drug-discovery process. It was during this time that new approaches and technologies arose to identify new drug targets, attain regulatory approvals and refine R&D techniques.

• 2000s

  Advances in computer technology, AI/Machine Learning and manufacturing processes made it super easy to develop new drugs. Well, not exactly easy but new technologies are helping streamline, refine and further modernize the process of pharmaceutical R&D in many interesting and exciting ways.

Now that we’re back in the present, let’s address the most common question when it comes to Pharmaceutical Technology – how does it work?
 

How Does Pharmaceutical Technology Work?

 
Pharmaceutical Technology isn’t one tool, platform or innovation. It’s kind of like a cornucopia of technologies that address various parts of the drug development ecosystem.

Here are a few examples:
 

• Social Media For Patient Outreach

  Sure, you can post photos of your cat to Twitter or embarrass your teenage kids by creating a (gulp) TikTok account but social media isn’t just for consumers anymore! Some pharma companies are using social media to engage with patients, gather data and educate the public about their products and brand. Pharma companies are also using social media to create groups and communities around a specific product, treatment, or condition. Here’s a post from Pfizer’s Instagram account promoting their work on the COVID19 vaccine.

   

• Data Collection For Research, Marketing And Personalized Therapy

  It always comes down to data, doesn’t it? Pharma companies are using new technologies like AI and ML to do lots of interesting things. You knew that already, right? This data can be leveraged for various purposes, including useful pharmaceutical stuff (e.g.: analysis of drug research data) and not-so-useful stuff (e.g.: targeted marketing campaigns.)
  
  In one of the more science-fictionesque initiatives, pharma is employing Machine Learning to design more personalized, tailored therapy that promises better (and safer) results. There’s an actual name for this! It’s called Theranostics, a combination of “therapeutics” and “diagnostics.” It promises to help deliver much more targeted (per person) treatment to certain tumors. #TheMoreYouKnow

• 3D Printing For Drug Production

  3D Printing isn’t just for creating baffling contemporary sculptures anymore! Pharma and biotech companies are experimenting with lots of terrifying yet intriguing applications – including creating 3D printed organs and, yes, even drugs. In fact, 3D printing technology promises to revolutionize drug production by enabling pharma companies to (cost-effectively) manufacture treatments for rare diseases (e.g.: “orphan” drugs).
  
  Pharma companies are traditionally reluctant to invest in orphan drugs because they’re too expensive to manufacture. Well, not anymore! Now, 3D printing makes it possible to churn out small quantities of drugs as if they were doll parts or phone cases (all the stuff that’s generally been made using 3D printing technology).

 

Source

• Data Analysis For Post-Market Drugs

  We hate to bring up data again but it’s kind of a big deal in the pharma and biotech space. Another exciting data-centric Pharmatech innovation is the application of AI and ML for post-market analysis of drugs. This tech looks at drug safety, usage patterns, comorbidities and other signals once a product is out of clinical trials and is being used with patient populations. We think it’s safe to say that Pharmatech is keeping us safe!

• Cloud-based Computing For Faster Regulatory Approval

  Pharma, just like the rest of us, has its head increasingly in the clouds. No, no, we don’t mean that in a bad way. Cloud-based tools and computer systems help regulators quickly and easily collaborate on new or pending drugs. This became rather important when a global pandemic shut down everything (including travel) and sent us all scurrying to our homes where we parked ourselves in front of our computers for the long haul. Technology like blockchain enables regulators to exchange real-time health reports and information for drug safety reporting without compromising the security and privacy of customer data.

Why Do We Need Pharmaceutical Technology?

We’re sure you can answer this one – but here’s why. Pharmatech is the next logical step in the modernization of drug development. It’s (dare we say) revolutionary! We need new technologies to make drugs more affordable and accessible to a global patient population. Innovations like cloud computing combined with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning mean that governments can easily collaborate with external entities to quickly respond to emergency situations.

Pharmaceutical research has existed since the 1500s and will continue to remain a critical aspect of our daily lives (even more so after the unprecedented 2020-2022 era!). Hence, it is necessary to understand where Pharmaceutical Technology is headed in the future.
 

The Future Of Pharmaceutical Technology

The future of Pharmatech is focused on delivering better care for patients. Pharmatech will improve access to vital treatments by increasing efficiency across the entire R&D process. Pharmatech will even change the way medications are prescribed, supplied and regulated through a wide range of tools that enable pharmacists to electronically access, manage and share patient information. Yes, soon those not-so-tasty medicines may be available in chocolate flavor or tailored to your specific needs.
 

Conclusion

There are many steps involved with creating medicines that make people better. The focus on outcomes-based care which rewards healthcare systems for putting patients will be at the center of everything and will be driving the innovations around Pharmaceutical Technology. The perfect pill for every ailment doesn’t exist (yet) except on the silver screen (we mean, people have been resurrected from the jaws of death!) but real-life Pharmaceutical Technologies will ultimately make it possible to deliver better results to more patients.

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