Covid-19: An Accelerator to Pharmaceutical Glass packaging Market?

As per Persistence Market Research, the global pharmaceutical glass packaging market is likely to witness a CAGR of 4.1% between 2017 and 2027.

The pharmaceutical industry is witnessing a high demand for glass packaging due to extensive utilization on the part of generic injectable drugs. The basic advantage of glass packaging is that glass acts as a barrier to entry of CO₂ and oxygen into the primary container. This, in turn, keeps the drugs from getting contaminated and averts hydrolysis and oxidation. Plus, glass packaging does resist escapade of the volatile ingredients, thereby ensuring drug stability. These trends are bound to upsurge the pharmaceutical glass packaging market between 2017 and 2027.

Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging market: What’s cooking?

The ion-exchange process in glass chemistry has churned out new-fangled and improved products that facilitate lowering of co-efficient of friction of surface. This has resulted in producing an inherently damage-resistant and sturdy glass. Moreover, the demand for glass vials has been increasing due to proven high inertness to most of the chemicals (as mentioned above).

As far as economies are concerned, manufacturers as well as suppliers are emphasizing on having their base shifted to Brazil, India, and China. Besides, the fact that novel therapeutic drugs (apart from 60 kinds of parenteral vaccines/drugs) are being sold in the form of prefilled syringes is expected to take the pharmaceutical glass packaging market by storm. As such, the Asia-Pacific and Latin America are expected to be the major revenue generators to the market in the upcoming period.

Market Challenges

Delamination acts as a major hindrance to the pharmaceutical glass packaging market. The subsequent surface degradation through glass chipping that appears as flakes in drug solution or product is termed as delamination. The manufacturers need to look for ways to address it, so as to ascertain the long-term stability of glass packaging. Consumers are seen shifting to COP/COC-based syringes to mitigate this. They also prove to be cost-effective. The “delamination” glitch, if overcome, could help the market stand in a better stead going forward.

Covid-19 Impact

The outbreak of Covid-19 has put the entire world on tenterhooks. However, it has exponentially increased the demand for glass vials. One such example is that of Scott, who has inked global agreements with several pharmaceutical companies for supplying vials. These vials could pack up to 2 Bn doses of the potential Covid-19 vaccine. Even otherwise, consumers are pressing for glass packaging to avoid any health-oriented complications further.

Competitive Landscape

The key players in the pharmaceutical glass packaging market include Arab Pharmaceutical Glass Co., Beatson Clark, Stolzle-Oberglas GmbH, Sisecam Group, Piramal Group, Ardagh Group, Bormioli Rocco Pharma, Stevanato Group S.p.A., Shandong Pharmaceutical Glass Co., Ltd., SGD Pharma, Scott AG, Nipro Corporation, Gerresheimer AG, and Corning Incorporated.

Beatson Clark holds the distinction of maintaining supply of glass jars and bottles even amidst the global pandemic. Piramal Group has also ramped up their vials (Moulded Vials/Type 1) anticipating demand for supply of Covid-19 vaccines.