Pharmaceutical production today is almost unrecognisable from its earliest days of herbal remedies and tinctures. Current high-tech pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques driven by machine learning and engineering breakthroughs are delivering medicines so sophisticated that they can directly target specific proteins within a cancer patient’s tumour. How the production of medicines reached this point is a journey through drug discoveries, revolutions in manufacturing techniques, regulatory developments, and radical, hard-won improvements in safety.

How Were the First Pharmaceuticals Produced?

The earliest healers and apothecaries derived medicines from natural sources - be it plants, animals, or minerals. Raw materials were processed using rudimentary techniques: dried, ground up, and/or boiled to produce ointments, poultices, balms, powders, teas, and tinctures. Knowledge of such techniques was passed down from healer to apprentice, usually by word of mouth. These traditions were often specific to their locale, meaning there was minimal standardisation of methods, dosages, or, consequently, effects.

As civilisations advanced, medical techniques, recipes, and practices began to be recorded in writing. There do still exist copies of some of the first ancient texts written on the subject, from cultures across the globe. The Egyptian Kahun Medical Papyrus dates from circa 1850 BCE and covers 34 different gynaecological problems and suggested treatments. The Ebers Papyrus dates from around 1550 BCE and contains over 700 medicinal formulas and folk remedies.  

For migraines, it recommends you “Combine the inner of an onion, fruit of the am tree, natron, setseft seeds, cooked bones of a swordfish, cooked redfish, cooked crayfish skull, honey, and abra ointment. Apply to the head for four days.” Other suggested remedies are still the standard approach used today, such as this treatment for guinea worm disease: “Wrap the emerging end of the worm around a stick and slowly pull it out.”

Other texts from around the world include the Chinese Huangdi Neijing, considered the foundation for classical Chinese medicine for the last 2000 years, and India’s Sushruta Samhita, one of the foundational texts of Ayurveda. The Ancient Greek ‘father of modern medicine’ Hippocrates discussed nearly 400 medicinal plants in his teachings, and Aristotle, too, compiled lists of herbs and plants with therapeutic properties. The Greek text De Materia Medica, written by Dioscorides, dates from between 50-70 CE and its five volumes constitute a pharmacopoea of medicinal plants and the remedies that can be derived from them. 

Treating patients using these remedies remained an exercise in trial and error. Medicines were tailored to the patient and prepared as needed, then adjustments were made based on previous treatment outcomes. As medical practices began to be recorded, the lessons learned via this approach would form the early basis for the empirical method that would inform the basis of modern medicine.

When Was the Birth of Modern Pharmaceuticals?

Medical treatments continued to follow similar methods for many centuries, with limited successes and harrowing scenes in backstreet barber shops. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century that the production of what we would recognise as modern pharmaceuticals became possible. Advances in chemistry permitted the isolation of active pharmaceutical ingredients from their occurrences in nature, such as morphine from the opium poppy, first derived in 1804. Other medicinal substances soon followed, such as emetine from ipecacuanha,  quinine from Peruvian bark, and atropine from deadly nightshade.

The advent of synthetic chemistry, which allowed the creation of compounds not found in the natural world, heralded the birth of the modern pharmaceutical age. Aspirin was one such medicine, synthesised by Bayer in 1897. Based on salicin extracted from willow bark, they modified it into the milder acetylsalicylic acid Thereafter, pharmaceutical companies began to mass-produce chemically synthesised medicines and drugs. This allowed them to meet the rapidly growing public demand for effective and reliable standardised medical treatments.

When Was the Modern Pharmaceutical Industry Formed?

The 20th century saw the formation of the pharmaceutical industry as we know it today. Technological breakthroughs and advances in large-scale manufacturing processes permitted the supply of medications around the globe. World War II in particular hastened the progress of pharmaceutical production, owing to the increased healthcare demands of those involved in the conflict. 

Penicillin had been discovered in 1928 by Fleming, but it wasn’t until WW2 that its value was truly understood. America’s large-scale fermentation capabilities enabled mass production of antibiotics by 1942, and this quickly revolutionised the treatment of bacterial infections worldwide.

As pharmaceuticals began to be produced on such a large scale, the need for standardisation and regulation became more apparent. Regulatory bodies were founded to oversee the production of medicines, with the intention of safeguarding the public. After tragedies such as the 1941 sulfathiazole disaster - where tablets contaminated with phenobarbital led to the death or injury of nearly 300 people - the first concept of what was to become the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines was drafted. 

This later became enshrined as the global standard for the pharmaceutical industry by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1968. By the late 1980s, the concepts therein were adopted by most countries around the world. As technology advanced towards the turn of the millennium, addendums were made to accommodate complex pharmaceuticals such as biologics, made from living tissues, such as the 1991 annex provided by the Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS). 

What are the Most Advanced Pharmaceutical Products Today?

The nascent biologics industry formed in the late 20th century has blossomed into the most highly advanced field of pharmaceuticals we see today. Antibodies, vaccines, and more are now carefully crafted from living cells and organisms. In contrast to the production of simple pharmaceutical compounds and small-molecule drugs, the manufacture of biologics is an extremely delicate process. These products are very sensitive to environmental conditions, so as well as finely-tuned specialised equipment, precise atmospheric controls must be maintained at all times.

The study of genomics and breakthroughs in biotechnology have simultaneously allowed for the development of treatments tailored to a patient’s unique genetic makeup and individual health conditions. This field of personalised medications is only in its infancy, but has already had an effect on pharmaceutical production methods. Flexible approaches like continuous manufacturing allow for the production of smaller batches and greater adaptability. Given the cost-effectiveness, such strategies look set to revolutionise the industry.

What is the Future of Pharmaceutical Production?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are set to continue to transform the industry going forwards. Real-time monitoring and analysis of production by computers are able to anticipate and prevent errors, optimise processes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. A more consistent and cost-effective product is the result, which is of value to both patients and businesses.

The greater integration of AI within pharmaceutical production also radically reduces the risk of human error, and can help maintain compliance with the ever-evolving industry regulations. As automation becomes the standard, the focus will naturally fall on streamlining processes and making them more sustainable. The adaptability of smart manufacturing technologies and continuous manufacturing processes is a huge asset for any business utlising them, and Pharmtech Manufacturing Expo is sure to emphasise their potential.

As often featured in Pharmtech’s Latest News pages, the advancements in engineering methods and production techniques continue to benefit the industry. 3D printing, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology are fields all still in their relative infancy, but their future impact on how drugs are manufactured is sure to be huge.

The evolution of pharmaceutical production techniques is a testament to the ingenuity of man and the adaptability of the industry as a whole. Whilst unrecognisable from its early roots of herbal folk remedies, its spirit of pushing the boundaries of science in pursuit of health and well-being remains steadfastly the same today. 

At Pharmtech Expo, this can be seen in practice, with over 470 exhibitors showcasing the very latest equipment and cutting-edge technologies in the pharmaceutical market right now. Pharmtech 2024 is set to bring together the industry’s best minds and leaders for Eurasia’s biggest pharmaceutical exhibition. With over 70 expert speakers scheduled, and attracting over 10,000 visitors, you don’t want to miss out on this unmatched business and networking opportunity; book to become an exhibitor today.