Sterile Medical Packaging to 2012 (US industry forecasts for 2012 & 2017)

Abstract

Demand for sterile medical packaging products is projected to reach $6.5 billion in 2012. Growth will be driven by the shift to an older demographic, which will lead to a rising incidence of acute and chronic conditions and an increasing volume of patient activity. Upward trends in patient activity will broaden the overall use of sterile medical products, impacting favorably on demand for related packaging. In addition to greater patient activity, the sterile medical packaging market will benefit from ongoing new product introductions and the upgrading of health care infection prevention standards.

Advancing medical technologies are expanding the market for sterile medical packaging by leading to the introduction of new end-use products. Virtually all biotechnology-based pharmaceuticals, biologicals and diagnostic substances are contaminant-vulnerable compounds that must be stored and dispensed under sterile conditions. Moreover, many of the new medical devices reaching the commercial stage are implantable or direct contact products composed of sterile biocompatible components. Prefillable containers, closures to be fastest growing The fastest gains are anticipated for prefillable syringes, vials and ampuls, prefillable inhalers and closures. Growth in these segments will be driven largely by the introduction of new drug therapies based on biotechnology and rapid growth in the number of conditions treated by injectable and inhaled drugs.

While glass vials will maintain the largest share of units and revenues based on inherent chemical and moisture resistance, high purity and well-established applications, plastic vials will command slightly faster growth opportunities due to improving intrinsic properties, reduced shipping weight and less vulnerability to breakage.

Based on trends in production volume and mix, product research and development, and government regulation, pharmaceuticals and biologicals will remain the largest and fastest growing application for sterile medical packaging. Advances in less invasive techniques will temper growth opportunities for most sterile products employed in surgery, IV administration, dialysis and many other patient procedures.

Growth for plastic materials will reflect a favorable mix of cost, performance and processing factors, which will expand applications in pharmaceuticals and biologicals, medical supplies and devices, in vitro diagnostics and dental products. The leading position held by plastic resins in most sterile medical packaging segments reflects ongoing innovations and performance improvements in compounds. Technological advances have made available polymers that meet the total packaging needs of medical and related products for biocompatibility, strength, chemical and impact resistance, infection prevention, clarity, sterilization compatibility, processing ease, and overall quality and cost efficiency.

This new Freedonia industry study, Sterile Medical Packaging, presents historical demand data (1997, 2002 and 2007) plus forecasts for 2012 and 2017 by sterile medical packaging material, product and application. The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share and profiles more than 40 industry competitors.