Shah Faisal, Packaging Development Manager at one of Saudi Arabia’s top pharma companies, explains how an in-house approach reaches across the Middle East, Africa and beyond
With the world’s attention turning like never before towards health concerns, companies producing packaging for medical supplies will be in greater demand than ever. Jeddah-based Jamjoom Pharma, ranked among the top five such companies in Saudi Arabia and among the fastest-growing in MEA and CIS.
Launched in 2000/2002 with a mission to be a centre of excellence for safe and effective pharmaceuticals, Jamjoom Pharma’s focus is on manufacturing products of the very highest quality for the worldwide market. Its state-of-the-art facility complies with international standards and uses equipment procured from the top-of-the-range suppliers in Europe and the US, such as Bausch and Stroebel, Uhlmann, GEA Diesel, Robert Bosch, Killian, Getinge, Pharmagel, Glatt, Finn Aqua, IWK, Norden, Weiler, Optrel, Mettler Toledo and Fitzpatrick.
World’s best materials We spoke with Shah Faisal, Jamjoom’s Packaging Development Manager, who explained the company’s success, and what the wider sector is lacking. “Our products range from solid dosage forms (tablets and capsules), sterile dosage forms, eyedrops, FFS [form, fill and seal] technology unit dose and multi-dose eye drops, injections, dermal creams, ointments and gels, oral liquids (syrups and suspensions), dry powder for suspension and soft gelatin capsules,” says Mr. Faisal.
Specifically, Jamjoom produces rigid, flexibles and lamitubes. Mr.Faisal says both packaging and product manufacturing is all done in-house. “All our products are fully owned by us and we do not do contract manufacturing,” he says.
“We buy the packaging material mostly from Europe. Our main suppliers for Rigids are Grieshmer. For the aluminium foils of 20 and 25 microns, our suppliers are Constantia. So our packaging materials come from the world’s best suppliers. We have a BFS [blow fill seal] machine for small bottles and machines also for unit doses as well. These kinds of packaging are unique in this region.
“For the secondary packaging, we procure all our materials locally like BIL cartons and labels. We also have huge volumes of ophthalmic and derma products. In the nutraceuticals category, we have filed around 70-80 products and 20 of them are already commercially available.”
When a design is less crucial
Printing recently moved in-house, too, as Mr. Faisal explains: “We were using C-set printing but due to cost constraints we have shifted to an in-house printing facility.
“We have a HAPA Digital Pad Printer, but we are not 100% dependent on it. If the supply lead time is high, then we can print inhouse and supply. We also have the online C-set where we directly put our artworks in the system and it does the job. Because of some service issues and cost issues, we are slowly moving to HAPA and local rotogravure machines.”
Regarding printing, most companies consider this vital to their brand strategy, but it could be argued that many of Jamjoom’s products come with unremarkable package designs. Mr. Faisal concedes this, but argues there is little point expending brainpower and finances on prescription medicines since there is little consumer choice involved. “Consumers do not buy the product because of the packaging. But based on the prescription,” he says.
“Almost all of the ophthalmic medicines prescribed by doctors are Jamjoom products. But for our nutra category and the cosmetics category of products, we do have attractive packaging, as they are purchased over the counter without prescriptions. One of our bestsellers is a vitamin capsule with twist-off packaging.”
Innovation is what’s missing
Finally, we want to discuss sustainability. With regulations coming in for multilayered polymers that are not recyclable, is there any regulation coming from the global pharma fraternity? Mr.Faisal says this is variable, but in any case Jamjoom is working proactively on its own sustainable solutions.
“As of now we haven’t received any issues regarding the sustainability from any of the FDA in the US or in Europe,” he says. “The only condition is that whatever packaging we use should be recycled. Not 100% – for example, if we sell in Saudi Arabia there is no regulation, but if we sell in Europe there is a regulation and we need to mark our packaging accordingly on how to recycle it.
“We use HDPE and LDPE, and these are recyclable. These materials can be recycled and reused for other purposes although not for other applications. “Also, in my 15 years of experience, I have seen that there has been very little innovation in pharma packaging. PVC, PVDC and Alu-Alu have been available for ages. This is the one thing missing in the pharma primary packaging – innovation. Some use PVC-PE-PVDC, duplex or triplex but there are hardly any alternatives. The primary packaging is mainly for safety and you can play with your secondary packaging.”