Action Steps
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Keep current on mergers and acquisitions among pharmaceutical manufacturing companies

Stay posted on company consolidations. Gain knowledge about acquisitions to gauge industry trends. Track past mergers to follow industry changes and to know where you and your company stand within the industry.

I recommend: Communicate with PharmaManufacturing.com to access current and archived articles about mergers and acquisitions. In addition, review articles with similar subjects through this resource. Stay connected to national and international consolidations at Pharmaceutical-technology.com. Sign up for their newsletter and newsletter archives.

Monitor compliance and quality news affecting drug contract manufacturers

Maintain industry regulations, stay on top of compliance updates by attending training and education programs, and invest in software that offers compliance solutions. Explore user-friendly software programs that uphold compliance with the Food and Drug Administration and other industry regulators. Finally, review articles about past regulation issues.

I recommend: Contact ComplianceOnline.com to attend web-based trainings about quality issues for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. They also provide articles about best practices and news about compliance. Get in touch with MasterControl to purchase integrated quality management software for businesses including contract pharmaceutical companies. Hire them to handle your validating software and other regulatory requirements. Access thousands of archived articles on regulatory and compliance issues at HighBeam Research, Inc.

Follow jobs openings for professionals at pharmaceutical manufacturing companies

Advance your career by tracking industry job listings. In addition, use these venues to post employment opportunities. In many instances you can access additional things such as resume writing and salary negotiation tips.

I recommend: Tap the career network at BioSpace, a company that features pharmaceutical and biotech jobs. Post your resume, and learn about career fairs and other employment related resources. Visit their career center to get helpful information about interviewing and writing cover letters. Contact Simply Hired to gain knowledge about national and international careers in the drug contract manufacturing industry. Type in the title and location of the job you seek to see their list of selections.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep up with trends at other companies by reviewing their websites and online literature. For instance, study a website's list of contract manufacturers in pharmaceuticals.

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Find a drug contract manufacturer that provides a full-service menu

Avoid using a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer too small to handle more than one job, leaving you with the headache of managing a long supply chain with small links. A pharmaceutical manufacturing company today should be able to handle a number of tasks, allowing you to concentrate on higher-end R&D.

I recommend: Located in Canada, Contract Pharmaceuticals Limited concentrates on customer-centric, full-service outsourcing, from manufacturing and packaging to testing services. NHK Laboratories, Inc. manufactures a wider variety of products, in both the pharmaceutical and "nutraceutical" market - both dietary supplements and functional foods.

Match the contract manufacturer to your pharmaceutical formulations

Choose a drug contract manufacturer that can handle the level of complexity your product development team specializes in.

I recommend: Ben Venue Laboratories claims the lead in freeze-drying and vacuum-drying sterile pharmaceuticals. Biotest Laboratories' ISO-accredited services include consulting and training along with product testing, cleanroom certification and contract manufacturing.

Go global in your search for drug contract manufacturers

Not only does outsourcing make sense financially, but an individual company must now consider the political landscape when outsourcing. Source contract manufacturers either as close to your products' markets as you can, or in a neutral territory. Also maintain multiple outlets, as global hot spots wax and wane - any given region can be a political asset one moment and a liability the next.

I recommend: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. claims to be one of the largest vertically integrated pharmaceutical manufacturers in India. Located in Switzerland, ADD Technologies Ltd concentrates on delivery systems for the pharmaceuticals you develop.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Spend time up front mapping out the supply chain, fully understanding the capabilities of your chosen pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. Once you've defined your product and process, standardize it across all parties, to smooth the flow of development, manufacture and distribution and ensure all parties comprehend their place within the cycle.

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Team up with drug contract manufacturers that provide wide-ranging services

Connect with outsourcing service providers to receive early clinical development and commercial manufacturing services. In addition, seek out companies that offer pharmaceutical formulations, contract manufacturing and packaging services.

I recommend: Contact Talecris Biotherapeutics for outsourcing services that include the early clinical phase through the commercial application phase. They also provide product formulation, process development, packaging development and regulatory support. Get in touch with Baxter BioPharma Solutions to access services that range from clinical development to commercial manufacturing.

Interact with trade groups for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies

Join industry associations to keep up with industry developments. Membership in organizations for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies is a good way to make the most of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing. Search for groups that provide both company and individual membership benefits.

I recommend: Communicate with Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an organization that represents the nation’s chief pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies. Contact the Parenteral Drug Association for information about regulatory affairs pertaining to the field of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

Stay abreast of packaging and manufacturing issues for drug contract manufacturing

Review market research reports and publications to gain manufacturing, packaging and other information about the industry. Consider white papers and clinical research articles. These reports and similar literature offer current news and industry development topics.

I recommend: Consult MarketResearch.com for in-depth reports about pharma packaging and drug contract manufacturing. For instance, you can purchase a comprehensive analysis of American pharma manufacturing that includes statistics and growth trends. Connect with Outsourcing-pharma.com for articles on packaging and manufacturing issues, plus breaking news for the field of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for membership extras when joining contract pharmaceutical companies' trade associations. For instance, see if membership includes training programs, annual seminars, online educational opportunities, newsletters, forums, job boards or other benefits.

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Contract organizations

Contract organizations perform a number of outsourcing functions for pharmaceutical manufacturers, such as contract procurement, protocol design and clinical testing functions.

I recommend: Master Control provides more information on the functions of contract organizations, including how contract organizations handle regulatory requirements and promote efficient quality control systems.

Packaging capabilities

Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing depends upon packaging capabilities. Packaging ensures that products reach consumers in a safe condition and must comply with regulatory packaging requirements.

I recommend: CPL details the packaging capabilities offered for products such as airless fillings, low volume creams, sterile syringes and injection bold moldings.

Product and process development

Product and process development refers to the creation of pharmaceutical products. Pharmaceutical contracting manufacturers can help you develop these products and procedures.

I recommend: To find out exactly what is involved in product and process development, check out the discussion of services at Ben Venue Laboratories. Learn about the formulation and validation procedures that are customarily performed on new and existing products.

Drug development services

Drug development services are offered by pharmaceutical contract manufacturers to lower costs and reduce unnecessary time drugs can spend in testing laboratories.

I recommend: To understand how a leading pharmaceutical contract manufacturer approaches drug development services, check out the step by step discussion at Dalton. Find out how a chemistry research team can streamline the drug development process.

Disintegrants

Pharmaceutical contract manufacturers blend disintegrants into formulas when developing tablets and capsules. The disintegrants help break up the capsule when introduced into a liquid environment.

I recommend: P Formulate explains the reasons for and process of adding disintegrants.