Pharmaceutical engineering has come a long way in recent years. It’s almost unrecognizable as a field from its inception in the 19th century. Developing innovative ideas in pharmaceuticals means understanding the origins of medication manufacturing. The pharmaceutical industry combines manufacturing advancements with human health and wellness needs. Here’s a brief history of pharmaceutical engineering and where it’s headed in the future.
Pharmaceuticals and the industrial revolution
The progress in product manufacturing during the second half of the industrial revolution inspired a new stage of development in pharmaceuticals, led by Merck in Germany. Europe was at the forefront of patented medication in the middle of the 19th century, followed closely by the United States.
During the American Civil War, demand for antiseptics and pain killers drove pharmaceutical innovations. Two German immigrants founded Pfizer to meet the needs of the military. Still, they were just one of the pharmaceutical companies with their origins during the Civil War. Eli Lilly was a colonel in the Union army who used his training as a pharmaceutical chemist to establish a business dedicated to driving new industry methods backed by R&D.
Government funding and greater regulation
Wars continued to drive new methodologies throughout the start of the 20th century. US pharmaceutical engineering, in particular, took off thanks to the booming economy, followed by a sizable federal funding investment of $100 million by 1956. George Merck articulated the ethos of the pharmaceutical industry at the time by urging for a greater focus on health and wellness, not profits.
In the 1960s, the Food and Drug Administration responded to the Thalidomide health crisis by instituting stricter regulations for prescription drugs and their required disclosures about side effects and drug efficacy.
Industry collaboration
Competition between manufacturers drove prices for mass-produced prescription drugs down. But the industry benefited from collaboration as well. In the early 20th century, the cooperative work of scientists working for competitive manufacturers brought both insulin and penicillin to market.
Collaboration continues to be an essential component of pharmaceutical engineering. By sharing knowledge, companies can develop more high-quality medications that better meet the needs of the public.
Looking to the future of pharmaceutical engineering
As scientific understanding of the causes of illnesses expands, so do the ways prescription medications can treat and prevent. Pharmaceutical engineering includes the development and manufacturing of immunotherapies, gene therapies, and antisense technology. Even rare illnesses previously believed to be untreatable are reframed by the advancing capabilities of the pharmaceutical industry.
The response to COVID-19, both in the development and manufacturing of a vaccine, has set a new standard for what’s possible when it comes to treating and preventing infectious diseases.
New challenges will continue to arise for public health, including resistant microbial strains and coronavirus epidemics. Staying responsive to the pharmaceutical market and health of the world means scaling your team through contractor partnerships, like with the expert team at Bothwell Engineering.
Bothwell Engineering Inc. connects pharmaceutical engineers with companies in the biotech, gene, and cell therapy industries.
Since 2011, the Bothwell Engineering team has proven to be a trusted partner in commercial and clinical programs in pharmaceuticals, biotech, cell therapy, and more. Our founders come from diverse backgrounds with one thing in common–an understanding that personal connections drive innovation. We run with minimal overhead, so we’re able to bill our clients at rates commensurate with the experience of the contractors they hire. It’s a new approach to pharmaceutical engineering that attracts top talent in diverse fields so we can provide unparalleled results to our clients.
To partner with expertise in a specific field to drive growth in your company, schedule an appointment with our team today.
