Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1287521
40 September 2020 Tablets & Capsules It's important to choose suppliers that are focused on quality, transparency, and purchasing ease. This helps protect future manufacturing against ingredient shortages and sourcing problems. Having a reliable empty-capsule supplier that sources quality materials and operates within the manufacturer's geographic area is increasingly import- ant to avoid future disruptions in the supply chain. T&C References 1. Observatory of Economic Complexity, "Gelatin" (HS: 3503), Available at: https://oec.world/en/profile/ hs92/gelatin. 2. Nehal Chaliawala, "Covid-19 impact: Squeeze on abattoirs is also hurting capsule makers," The Economic Times, May 28, 2020. 3. Hannah Ellis-Petersen, "India limits medicine exports after supplies hit by coronavirus," The Guardian, March 4, 2020. 4. Janet Woodcock, "Securing the US Drug Supply Chain: Oversight of FDA's Foreign Inspection Program," Testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investiga- tions, December 10, 2019. 5. United States Senate Committee on Finance, "Grassley urges HHS, FDA to implement unannounced inspections of foreign drug manufacturing facilities," August 7, 2019. 6. Katherine Eban, "A Healthy Relationship? Assess- ing the Risks and Opportunities of China's Medicine and Health Development," Testimony before the U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission, July 31, 2019. 7. US FDA, "Manufacturing, supply chain, and drug inspections: COVID-19," April 9, 2020. 8. Dasong Liu, et al., "Collagen and gelatin," Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, April 2015, Vol. 6, pages 527-557. 9. Didi Tang, "China threat to halt US antibiotics sup- ply," The Times, March 11, 2019. 10. Rosemary Gibson, "Exploring the growing US reli- ance on China's biotech and pharmaceutical products," Testimony before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, July 31, 2019. Jonathan Gilinski is executive director of CapsCanada (866 788 2888, www.capscanada.com). The company manufac- tures gelatin and HPMC empty hard capsules for the global pharmaceutical and dietary supplement markets. need to produce increasing quantities of drug products to keep up with demand. Increased gelatin use in a variety of food and cosmetic products is also straining the supply. Gelatin's popularity as a food additive is rising because of its health-boosting properties, such as antioxidant capabilities, and functional benefits, such as cryoprotectant and food-stabilizing properties [8]. Plus, cosmetics manufacturers are increas- ingly using collagen and gelatin in skincare products for their perceived anti-aging benefits, although scientific data showing efficacy is limited [8]. Importance of reliable supply chains COVID-19 is predicted to continue to affect compa- nies' day-to-day operations for the near future, indicating that ingredient shortages may linger or may come and go as future outbreaks rise and fall in various nations. Additionally, some experts warn of the risk of additional global pandemics. Using reliable and transparent suppli- ers can help the pharmaceutical industry better weather future global upheaval. International relations are also playing a role in sourc- ing materials. In addition to more limited flights and bor- der closings, trade tensions have risen between the US and China. A leading Chinese economist recently sug- gested that China curtail its exports of raw pharmaceuti- cal materials to the US [9]. Sourcing ingredients domesti- cally or within the same geographic area and minimizing long-distance shipping can help protect manufacturers' supply chains. Handing over the majority of pharmaceutical supply operations to other countries also increases security risks. If the US is unable to produce its own medicines, it's more dependent on and vulnerable to other nations that provide the supply. In particular, centralizing drug alloca- tion in one country, such as China, may lead to interrup- tion of medicine supply due to outside forces, such as a pandemic, human error, or intentional tampering. Furthermore, when a single other country controls a large market share in manufacturing drugs for Amer- ica, it can easily control the prices that the industry and consumers pay here. To reduce risk to US national health security, in recent years several US politicians and experts have called for increased local production of medicines and have recommended purchasing supplies from trustworthy, qualified manufacturers rather than focusing on price [10]. Using reliable and transparent suppliers can help the pharmaceutical industry better weather future global upheaval.