The State of the Pharmaceutical Industry
Given the numerous scientific and medical advances over the past century or so, it should perhaps not come as a surprise to know that the worldwide pharmaceutical industry is a thriving sector believed to be worth in the region of over US$300 billion each year. With current ongoing research into illnesses such as cancer and heart disease, it can only be presumed that this figure will only increase rapidly and significantly in the coming years.
At the current time, around a third of the pharmaceutical market is controlled by around 10 drug companies with six of these being based in the United States. Although smaller companies do emerge in this industry from time to time, given the set up expense of scientific laboratories and the skills and equipment that is needed to carry out research, this is not an industry that is easily broken into. With around a third of the bigger company’s sales expenditure going on advertising, competition is fierce and it is likely that only the big boys could survive.
There has been concern at the World Health Organisation, for some time that this huge expenditure on marketing may be being made at the expense of the cure and prevention of many illnesses that account for too many fatalities, especially in poorer parts of the world. Many of these illnesses can be cured relatively simply if the will is there. To counteract the imbalance between market and research expenditure, guidelines have now been set up with a voluntary code of practise for all pharmaceutical companies to observe. It is hoped by those, like Wes Wheeler, who have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years that this will bring about a greater balance, as well as improving and advancing medical research and its effectiveness in the treatment of illness and diseases.
Of course, whilst much emphasis is put on the pharmaceutical companies themselves, they could not possibly survive without other parts of the infrastructure that is needed for all businesses, but in the pharmaceutical industry especially, specialised support is needed.
Cleaning is an obvious example and is exceptionally important within the laboratories in order to ensure that exact high standards of hygiene are maintained to guarantee that not only is research carried out correctly, but that results are not distorted by hygiene factors.
Logistics
Naturally, with the precise nature of biological equipment and supplies, these cannot be carried, in most cases, by standard courier services and specialist companies are often used in the transportation of equipment and supplies needed by the pharmaceutical industry.
This is an entire industry in itself and one that requires specialised equipment and training. Those with many years working in the field of pharmaceuticals, such as Wes Wheeler, are fully aware of the importance of logistics in ensuring that pharmaceutical and biological products are carried safely and efficiently to their desired destinations.
Because of the international nature of pharmaceutical research, any logistics company wishing to work in this field must have a wide reach, with offices and distribution centres across the world. This reach will enable materials to be transported quickly and effectively wherever they are needed.
