1. What is the West's pivotal role in the pharmaceutical industry across APAC?

West has been a global leader in packaging components and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products for over a century. We are committed to delivering high-quality, market-leading solutions to our partners in line with global regulatory standards.

In APAC, we have maintained a strong presence for many decades, serving our customers and patients in the region. We have established three state-of-the-art manufacturing sites in Singapore, China, and India, allowing us to better meet local demand for high-quality pharmaceutical packaging and delivery systems.

We are focused on delivering high-quality products and services, including vial containment solutions, prefillable syringe systems, and self-injection platforms, to support the growing demand for safe and effective drug delivery in the region. Chances are, if you’ve ever been vaccinated, or if you or a loved one has ever needed to take an injected medicine, you’ve probably come in contact with a West product.

With a commitment to excellence and a customer-centric approach, West collaborates closely with key regional partners to ensure a lasting legacy of patient care, contributing to the efficiency, reliability, and safety of pharmaceutical drug delivery.

2. What do you foresee the growth trajectory for key emerging markets like Singapore, India, South Korea, and China to be like?

The pharmaceutical industry in key emerging APAC markets is on a steady growth trajectory due to significant healthcare spending and an increased focus on innovation post pandemic.

As such, there are plenty of opportunities for pharmaceutical firms to grow within these markets.

For example, in China, the Healthy China 2030 initiative is expected to expand the nation’s healthcare industry to around US$2.4 trillion. India has seen its healthcare market grow by more than a fifth over the last five years, owing to increased spending on both private and public healthcare, booming pharma manufacturing and services, as well as a boost in healthcare technology ecosystem.

Simultaneously, Singapore and South Korea boast deep expertise in biologics and biosimilars and high-value products. They offer fertile ground for the development of advanced pharmaceutical centres, with favourable environments rich in investment opportunities and government support. For example, South Korea has set ambitious goals to capture 5 percent of the global biomarket by 2025 and manufacture 100 new drugs by 2026. This underscores the country’s commitment to growth in the sector. Likewise, Singapore actively fosters innovation through programs like the Pharma Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS), which drives the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies.

3. What is your strategic vision for the region over the next three to five years?

Our vision for West in APAC over the next three to five years is centred around enhancing patient care, supporting healthcare providers, and partnering with injectable drug manufacturers, while empowering our team and driving sustainable business growth. We aim to develop and deliver innovative packaging and drug delivery solutions that enhance patient safety, convenience, and adherence to the ever-evolving regulatory requirements.

Closer collaboration with healthcare providers and injectable drug manufacturers to understand their needs and challenges is also a goal. Working with them will help us provide products and services that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery and drug administration with speed and agility.

Internally, we also want to invest in the development and well-being of our team members, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. To support our growth ambitions in the region, we will also continue to grow the bench strength for critical roles and build West as a great place to work.

Finally, we want to accelerate our growth in the region. To this end, we are pursuing strategic growth opportunities that strengthen and diversify our product portfolio. This will allow us to not only support new injectable drug molecules that are being developed but also cater to the evolving needs of our existing customers. Additionally, we aim to expand our footprint by targeting untapped geographies and segments.
By focusing on these priorities, we aim to make a meaningful impact on patient care, healthcare delivery, and drug administration in this region while ensuring the long-term success of our business.

4. What is your plan for rolling out your strategy in the key APAC markets?

APAC is one of our most important markets. Its rapid advancements in drug discovery innovation make it a key driver of our future growth, and we have been strategically investing here to capitalise on this potential.

For example, we inaugurated our newly advanced manufacturing facility in Singapore last year as part of our global investment to meet the growing needs of our customers. Equipped with industry-leading coating, pharmaceutical washing, sterilization, and automated vision inspection capabilities for elastomers, the newly upgraded Singapore facility allows us to provide high-quality containment products for injectable drugs at one location in APAC, from start to finish, helping to enhance overall lead time for customers.

Read more: https://www.pharmafocusasia.com/advertorials/navigating-the-next-100-years-wests-strategy