Smart packaging


track a full shipment, you can’t do this.” Despite the value of such data, accessing it is not easy. “The IoT devices that are available on the market today are mostly track-and-trace focused devices, controlling your shipment and supporting planning parameters,” explains Van der Geer. “Another category of devices out there are used to validate the quality of the products when it is received by a customer. Making a bridge between those two is difficult but not impossible.”


Achieving greater visibility of the supply chain is particularly important because of the shift in MSD’s portfolio. “There is a move towards more biologics, more life-saving drugs and high-value products in smaller volumes, which means we need to think differently in terms of how we protect shipments,” says Van der Geer.


Of equal importance


Being able to address problems that arise during shipment is important but Van der Geer emphasises that this is not the ultimate goal. “The data management itself makes shipment intervention possible; with IoT you have the ability to intervene before events occur, although I don’t think that is the right element to focus on,” says Van der Geer. “Actual shipment intervention is complicated and involves many direct communication lines and handovers. The ability to better understand the risks and


MSD in the Netherlands  MSD is one of the pharmaceutical companies that invested the most in R&D: for 2017 it was 25% of the turnover.


 A number of important MSD medicines have been discovered and (partially) developed in the Netherlands, among these is immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer.


 MSD Netherlands is a pioneer in biological R&D for animal health; for example, the development of vaccines against upcoming animal diseases such as bluetongue in cattle.


 MSD Netherlands is the birthplace of many new developments in the area of fertility and contraception.


 By producing over 100 different veterinary vaccines and medicines, MSD Netherlands contributes to the prevention and the health protection of animals. The worldwide supply is over 50 billion doses per year.


 MSD invests in new production technologies such as Sphereon: a technology that freeze-dries live viral vaccines as easily soluble pellets.


Source: MSD


capabilities, and be predictive and proactive are equally important.” With this in mind, MSD is investing heavily into technologies and processes within the next few years. There are a number of different sources of information that MSD will draw upon in its efforts. “When we have our planning data, our transportation data and our temperature data, we can start bringing those together within the cloud environment,” says Van der Geer. “What’s next after that, is building predictive analytics, finding external data sets that we can use, as well as linking up with product serialisation data. We want to integrate all that information to get a large picture.” ●


Relationships in pharmaceutical packaging innovation


Regulatory authorities


Partners within the business group


Focal relationship


Packaging supplier


Supplier of raw materials (polymers)


Design


companies, human factors, consultants


Other customers Contract


manufacturing company


Source: Journal of Business Research


Wholesaler, distribution centre


Hospitals, pharmacies


Patients Other suppliers Drug manufacturer


Marketing consultancies


Contract research


organisation


Packaging Insight / www.worldpharmaceuticals.net


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