Technology is in a constant state of flux. In the coming years, we can expect to see highly advanced pieces of tech being released. With that said, the technology that we already have is pretty advanced as it stands.
All industries can benefit from smart technology, including the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, you could argue that the pharmaceutical industry will benefit most of all from smart technology because much of the pharmaceutical production and manufacturing process is automated these days.
This article will break down and explain exactly how the pharmaceutical industry can benefit from the smart technologies that are currently available – and those due to be released in the future:
Pharma 4.0
Pharma 4.0 is a term used to refer to the updates and technological advances taking place in the pharmaceutical industry. Technology is being incorporated in all areas of the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, processing plants. It’s important not to understate the importance of pharma 4.0 for process plants because without tech, pharma companies would have to spend a lot more money in the production of drugs than they currently are. There is constantly new technologies being released and unveiled, helping the pharmaceutical industry to thrive.
Pharmacovigilance
Pharmacovigilance is a term that refers to the study, management, and prevention of adverse reactions from drugs. Pharmacovigilance is being significantly improved, with the help of technology. This is because, with smart technologies, pharmaceutical companies are able to better monitor data and collect information. An example of this is the use of mobile sensors to collect patients’ biometric data when they are undergoing drug trials. Additionally, artificial intelligence is being used by life science organisations to navigate huge indexes of data, in order to discover exactly how patients are being impacted by the drugs that they have been using. Artificial intelligence is also used to increase efficiency in drug trials.
It’s very difficult to determine whether a drug will be effective or not, especially if it is taken by patients privately at home. The use of technology enables pharmaceutical companies to ensure that their products are safe, reliable, and most important of all, effective.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is also being used by pharmaceutical companies to great effect. Virtual reality can be used to visualise physiological processes and modelling compounds. Virtual reality can be used to educate patients, doctors, students, and potential investors about the efficacy of particular drugs or treatments. The ability for pharmaceutical companies to use virtual reality to show simulations to investors is especially useful because it allows them to draw up images of items and drugs that aren’t yet in production – or being used. It also enables them to demonstrate exactly how specific treatments will be employed, even if the treatment has not yet been created.
Additionally, virtual reality allows for modelling concepts that are very advanced. It’s entirely possible that virtual reality headsets will be used to demonstrate treatments and even show patients what they can expect.
Industrial Mechanics
The machines that are used to produce pharmaceutical drugs and package them require a lot of maintenance. Smart technologies are making it easier for pharmaceutical companies to identify and determine when a machine needs to be repaired. Monitoring sensors are installed that alert supervisors if a machine begins to break down. In addition, these sensors also shut machines down if a failure or issue is detected. This ultimately allows pharmaceutical companies to save money. If these sensors didn’t exist, then they would not be able to identify when their machines were breaking down or failing to work immediately.
Inventory Tracking
Pharmaceutical drugs aren’t cheap to produce. They aren’t cheap to buy either. Thankfully, smart technologies have enabled pharmaceutical companies to keep better track of the drugs that they are producing and selling, preventing them from being stolen or going missing. Each item has its own unique bar code, that is scanned at each stage in the production and packaging process. Tracking is crucial if pharmaceutical companies want to ensure that their products are delivered to retailers fast, and if they want to ensure that their products are high-quality. Tracking also reduces the risk of ingredient substitution and counterfeit drugs.
Regulatory Compliance
Pharmaceutical companies are required to adhere to regulations and rules, governing how their companies are run, and the drugs that they produce. Drug production processes must be well-documented, in order to adhere to these regulations. Smart technologies allow pharmaceutical companies to document every stage of production, which they do by sending data to a server that is viewable by regulatory bodies. This ultimately reduces the amount of paperwork that needs to be done and reduces the potential margin for error. These things have saved pharmaceutical companies a lot of time and a lot of money, allowing them to focus on more important things.
Patient Connectivity
One of the most exciting new smart technologies used by pharmaceutical companies is the smart pill, which is a device that detects changes in a patient’s physical condition. They can be swallowed or implanted. If a serious health issue is detected, the device can alert a paramedic or physician, allowing the patient to get help. Some smart pills can also be swallowed so that doctors can inspect the insides of a person’s stomach and intestines, which is great for detecting digestive issues. Smart contact lenses are also in development. There are also implantable devices that can be connected to one’s phone, that will send a notification when it is time for a person to take their medicine.
The Future of Smart Technology
Every year, new technology is released. The technology currently being used by pharmaceutical companies is already transforming the industry. Future technologies will undoubtedly be immensely useful to pharmaceutical companies. One of the greatest advantages of the technology that is being released – and is released currently – is automation. Eventually, the pharmaceutical industry will be able to transition to being fully automated. This will allow pharmaceutical companies to save a lot of money, significantly reducing the staff that they need to hire.
The pharmaceutical industry has benefitted tremendously from smart technology and will continue to do so. There are many other ways that it benefits, beyond the things that we have discussed in this article, which are worth researching if you are interested in the subject.
