When a pharmaceutical company is looking for a contractor to work with to produce a new medication, there will be a range of different factors that have to be considered. It is natural for a company to focus on the price for the services, but there are other essential issues to consider as well.
By comparing these often overlooked aspects of choosing contract pharmaceutical companies, it is possible to find a contract manufacturer that can seamlessly partner with your in-house team to simplify and expedite the clinical phase of drug product development.
Scope of Services Offered
Not all contract pharmaceutical companies are able to provide the full scope of services required. The best companies have specialized teams to provide everything from preformulation support to the formulation, analysis, and stability testing as well as manufacturing and packaging services.
By working with one company that can provide all services without the need to subcontract or to work with multiple services, there is greater continuity and less risk of problems in validation and verification.
Expertise of the Team
With any contract pharmaceutical companies, experience and expertise of the staff are going to be an essential consideration. Take the time to review the history of the company, any issues that may have occurred with their services, as well as the level of expertise and experience that is found in the various departments or groups that will be working with your product.
Ability to Collaborate
In some pharmaceutical companies, the in-house team may play more or less of a role in the clinical phase of new drug development. Finding a contract manufacturing company that can provide the specific services required while also working collaboratively with your in-house team will be critical.
Comparing prices, capabilities and capacity for production will, of course, also be essential factors. However, don’t forget they are not the only factors that will impact the drug development process.