Manufacture Of Medicines Research Articles

Professor Namburi Hanumanta Rao: A master innovator who shaped Ayurveda Pharmaceutics

Abstract Many legendary Ayurvedic physicians in Andhra Pradesh have dedicated their lives to patronizing Ayurveda on par with the Allopathic system, and some contributed to Ayurveda through their research, practice, orientation, teaching, manufacturing of medicines, and publication. Namburi Hanumanta Rao (NHR) is a man with all the above skills. Prof. Rao is considered a great Ayurvedic scholar and pioneer in Rasashastra. Prof. Rao did his research in many branches of Ayurveda and had good practice, orientation, teaching ability, skills in manufacturing medicines, and publications. Prof. Rao contributed a lot to propagating Ayurveda on scientific lines. Prof. Rao established Dr. Rao’s Herbal Pharma Pvt. Ltd. in 1987. Diabetes, arthritis, and hair care are three significant components of his pharmacy. He published works like the Manual of Numburi Phased Spot Test (Qualitative standardization of Bhasmas and Sindhuras), Panchabhuta theory (A study of Panchabhuta at the molecular level), and the Nyaya Vaiseshika theory of the Evolution of the Universe closely correlates with the Big Bang theory of modern scientists. He established The Academy of Ayurveda, Sevaniketan, and Yoga Samaj organizations. He innovated many new techniques in Rsasasastra. NHR was a member of many governments and voluntary organizations, received many awards, presented scientific papers in many national and international seminars, visited foreign countries, and served to enrich the Ayurvedic system of medicine in the country and abroad. He was a highly respected personality whose life can be summarized with the quote, “Be Ayurvedist; be Proud of it.”

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds and Stability of Mangrove Extract Rhizopora Sp.

In recent decades, bioactive compounds contained in plants have increasingly attracted the attention of researchers. This is because these bioactive compounds have the potential to be used as raw materials in the manufacture of health products, medicines, and cosmetics. However, in developing products based on bioactive compounds in Rhizopora sp. mangroves, sufficient knowledge about these compounds is needed. The main objective of this study was to identify bioactive compounds and evaluate the stability of Rhizopora sp. mangrove extract obtained from Youtefa Bay area, Jayapura City. The methods used include mangrove leaf sampling, maceration extraction using methanol, followed by fractionation and phytochemical tests to detect the content of active compounds. Data analysis was performed using UV and IR spectroscopy. The results showed that the isolated Rhizophora sp. mangrove leaf extract obtained from Youtefa Bay waters contained several bioactive compound activities such as alkaloid, flavonoid, phenolic, and saponin bioactive compound groups in methanol solvents. In conclusion, mangrove Rhizophora sp. from Youtefa Bay has great potential as a source of bioactive compounds that can be further developed in various commercial products.

OPTIMALISASI PENGIRIMAN BARANG UNTUK MEMAKSIMALKAN GROSS PROFIT PADA PT LOGISTIK ABC

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Indonesian economy, particularly in the transportation and logistics sector. This sector has experienced fluctuations in financial performance triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after overcoming this challenging period, the Indonesian economy has shown positive trends. A leading logistics company, PT Logistik ABC, located in Jakarta, has a non-exclusive working agreement with a herbal medicine manufacturing company, PT XYZ. PT XYZ provides the required quantity of goods, but PT Logistik ABC is not obligated to fulfill the entire demand. The issue lies with PT Logistik ABC, as they transport goods from Jakarta to Semarang, but the fleet condition from Semarang to Jakarta is empty. With this situation, PT Logistik ABC aims for a higher gross profit by maximizing the available resources. Therefore, this study employs an optimization approach to optimize gross profit using non-linear programming. The optimal gross profit obtained is Rp150,893,000.00, representing 62% increase from the previous amount of Rp93,461,000.00.

Exploring bias risks in artificial intelligence and targeted medicines manufacturing

BackgroundThough artificial intelligence holds great value for healthcare, it may also amplify health inequalities through risks of bias. In this paper, we explore bias risks in targeted medicines manufacturing. Targeted medicines manufacturing refers to the act of making medicines targeted to individual patients or to subpopulations of patients within a general group, which can be achieved, for example, by means of cell and gene therapies. These manufacturing processes are increasingly reliant on digitalised systems which can be controlled by artificial intelligence algorithms. Whether and how bias might turn up in the process, however, is uncertain due to the novelty of the development.MethodsExamining stakeholder views across bioethics, precision medicine, and artificial intelligence, we document a range of opinions from eleven semi-structured interviews about the possibility of bias in AI-driven targeted therapies manufacturing.ResultFindings show that bias can emerge in upstream (research and development) and downstream (medicine production) processes when manufacturing targeted medicines. However, interviewees emphasized that downstream processes, particularly those not relying on patient or population data, may have lower bias risks. The study also identified a spectrum of bias meanings ranging from negative and ambivalent to positive and productive. Notably, some participants highlighted the potential for certain biases to have productive moral value in correcting health inequalities. This idea of “corrective bias” problematizes the conventional understanding of bias as primarily a negative concept defined by systematic error or unfair outcomes and suggests potential value in capitalizing on biases to help address health inequalities. Our analysis also indicates, however, that the concept of “corrective bias” requires further critical reflection before they can be used to this end.

Consensus Statement on the Outcome of the European Herbal Health Products Summit - Which Way Forward?

Herbal medicinal products are a vital part of the healthcare system in Europe and beyond. Being predominantly sold as non-prescription medicines in pharmacies, they are very popular with patients, physicians, and pharmacists and are therefore an important part of self-medication. Interest in this sector has recently gained momentum, reflecting the ongoing revision of the general pharmaceutical legislation and the recent discussion on nutrition and health claims on foods based on the implementation report of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 by the European Parliament 1. Therefore, on 20th February 2024, the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), in collaboration with the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association (BPI) and the German Medicines Manufacturers' Association (BAH, now Pharma Deutschland), hosted an in-person summit in Brussels entitled 'European Herbal Health Products Summit - Which way forward?'. The summit featured a wide range of speakers, including policymakers, regulatory authorities, industry representatives, and academic experts. It was divided into several sessions covering topics such as the future and relevance of herbal medicinal products in the EU, the revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation, and the resulting impact on herbal medicinal products. Furthermore, the discussions delved into the "Health Claims Regulation" - the European Parliament's implementation report and the related regulatory challenges of herbal medicinal products at an EU level. This consensus paper summarises the current status and provided recommendations to pave the way for future strategies to ascertain the continued use of herbal medicinal products as an important therapeutic option for patients.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method Development and Validation for Simultaneous Determination of Seven Nitrosamine and Azidomethyl-Biphenyl-Tetrazole Impurities in Losartan.

Nitrosamine-related impurities (N-nitrosomethylamino butyric acid [NMBA], N-nitrosodiethylamine [NDEA], N-nitrosodiisopropylamine [NDIPA], N-nitrosomethylphenylamine [NMPA], N-nitrosodibutylamine [NDBA], N-nitrosodimethylamine [NDMA], and N-nitrosoethylisopropylamine [NEIPA]) and 5-[4'-(azidomethyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-yl]-2H-tetrazole (AZBT) formed during the manufacture of sartan medicines have been classified into human mutagens and carcinogens after long-term treatment. The study developed a simple, economical but highly sensitive procedure for the simultaneous quantification of seven nitrosamines and AZBT impurities in sartan pharmaceuticals. After extraction with methanol (MeOH) 50%, the compounds were analyzed with a reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy with atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode (APCI[+] for nitrosamines and APCI[-] for AZBT), selected reaction monitoring, C18 column, gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in water and in MeOH, respectively. The validated procedure obtained high extraction efficiency (>90%), wide linear range (0.2-50.0ng/mL NMBA, NDEA, NDIPA, NMPA, and NDBA; 0.5-50.0ng/mL NDMA and NEIPA; 2.0-100ng/mL AZBT), limit of quantification <10% of the acceptance level, recovery range of 85%-115% with relative standard deviation <15% and minimum matrix effects for all impurities. The procedure was applied to test 16 commercial losartan samples. As a result, eight samples contained AZBT within the current regulatory limits, but no nitrosamine impurities were detected in all samples.

Awareness and current knowledge of medicinal plants

Abstract Objectives This research attempts to investigate the historical applications of plants for therapeutic reasons, follow the development of these applications, and comprehend the influence of artificial methods on the use of medicinal plants. Methods The study involves the examination of antique writings from Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and the Islamic world, as well as a 5000-year-old Sumerian clay tablet discovered in Nagpur. The study examined historical reports of a number of therapeutic plants, including Glycyrrhiza glabra, Cupressus sempervirens, Commiphora myrrha, Cedrus duham, and Papaver somniferum. It also looked at how improved methods of separating active plant components were developed in the early 19th century, as opposed to more crude treatments like tinctures and powders. Key findings Historical evidence reveals that ancient cultures used a wide variety of plants for medicinal reasons, preparing them in different ways. The development of synthetic methods in the 19th century completely changed the manufacture of pharmaceuticals by making it possible to replicate active ingredients precisely and in large quantities. With more than 250 000 plant species recognized, nature’s wide diversity of plant metabolites highlights the importance of plants in both traditional and contemporary medicine. Conclusions The development of contemporary synthetic approaches from traditional plant-based medicines serves as an example of how far medicine has come. While modern techniques have increased the effectiveness and scalability of medicinal manufacturing, the historical usage of plants demonstrates a profound grasp of their curative potential. The vast diversity of plant metabolites continues to be important for health and medicine despite advancements in synthetic approaches, highlighting the ongoing importance of natural resources in pharmaceutical research.

Current developments and advancements of 3-dimensional printing in personalized medication and drug screening.

3-Dimensional printing (3DP) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique that is expanding quickly because of its low cost and excellent efficiency. The 3D printing industry grew by 19.5 % in 2021 in spite of the COVID-19 epidemic, and by 2026, the worldwide market is expected to be valued up to 37.2 billion US dollars. Science Direct, Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, DOAJ, and other academic databases provide evidence of the increased interest in 3DP technology and innovative drug delivery approaches in recent times. In this review four main 3DP technologies that are appropriate for pharmaceutical applications: extrusion-based, powder-based, liquid-based, and sheet lamination-based systems are discussed. This study is focused on certain 3DP technologies that may be used to create dosage forms, pharmaceutical goods, and other items with broad regulatory acceptance and technological viability for use in commercial manufacturing. It also discusses pharmaceutical applications of 3DP in drug delivery and drug screening. The pharmaceutical sector has seen the prospect of 3D printing in risk assessment, medical personalisation, and the manufacture of complicated dose formulas at a reasonable cost. AM has great promise to revolutionise the manufacturing and use of medicines, especially in the field of personalized medicine. The need to understand more about the potential applications of 3DP in medical and pharmacological contexts has grown over time.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)-Based Hydrogels: Recent Progress in Fabrication, Properties, and Multifunctional Applications.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogels have attracted significant attention due to their excellent biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and ability to form stable three-dimensional networks. This comprehensive review explores the recent advancements in PVA-based hydrogels, focusing on their unique properties, fabrication strategies, and multifunctional applications. Firstly, it discusses various facile synthesis techniques, including freeze/thaw cycles, chemical cross-linking, and enhancement strategies, which have led to enhanced mechanical strength, elasticity, and responsiveness to external stimuli. These improvements have expanded the applicability of PVA-based hydrogels in critical areas such as biomedical, environmental treatment, flexible electronics, civil engineering, as well as other emerging applications. Additionally, the integration of smart functionalities, such as self-healing capabilities and multi-responsiveness, is also examined. Despite progress, challenges remain, including optimizing mechanical stability under varying conditions and addressing potential toxicity of chemical cross-linkers. The review concludes by outlining future perspectives, emphasizing the potential of PVA-based hydrogels in emerging fields like regenerative medicine, environmental sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in realizing the full potential of these versatile materials to address pressing societal challenges.

WHO guidelines for quality control of herbal medicines: From cultivation to consumption

WHO guidelines serve as a comprehensive framework for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of herbal products throughout their lifecycle, from cultivation to consumption. Here's why adherence to these guidelines is crucial. By following WHO guidelines, manufacturers can implement practices that minimize the risks associated with herbal medicines, including contamination, adulteration, and variability in potency. This helps protect public health and ensures that consumers can use herbal products with confidence. Quality control measures recommended by WHO contribute to the consistency and reliability of herbal medicines. Standardization of production processes and the establishment of quality parameters help maintain the potency and efficacy of herbal products, leading to more predictable therapeutic outcomes. Adherence to WHO guidelines facilitates compliance with regulatory requirements established by national authorities and international bodies. Regulatory agencies often refer to WHO guidelines when developing regulations for the manufacturing, distribution, and labeling of herbal medicines. Compliance with these guidelines helps manufacturers meet regulatory standards and gain market authorization for their products. WHO guidelines provide a harmonized approach to quality control practices, promoting consistency and uniformity in the assessment of herbal medicines worldwide. This facilitates international trade and ensures that products manufactured in one country meet quality standards accepted globally, fostering trust and confidence among consumers and healthcare professionals. The systematic review highlights the ongoing efforts of WHO to review and update guidelines based on emerging scientific evidence and best practices. Adhering to these evolving guidelines encourages continuous improvement in quality control practices and fosters innovation in the herbal medicine industry.

Carbon footprint of oral medicines using hybrid life cycle assessment

BackgroundHealthcare represents 3–8% of a country's carbon footprint, and medicines are estimated to represent 20–55% of healthcare's carbon footprint. Unfortunately, only scarce and partial medicine life cycle assessments (LCAs) are reported due to the limited availability of needed data to perform them. MethodsWe describe a method to estimate the cradle-to-pharmacy gate LCA of all oral medicines from the French pharmacopeia (n = 12,316 medicines) that includes the entire medicine-related carbon footprint, encompassing active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), excipients and packaging production, transport, medicine manufacturing, and associated corporate emissions using a hybrid LCA/environmentally extended input-output model. The uncertainty surrounding this estimation is modeled using bootstrap. FindingsAlthough the API carbon footprint is correlated with synthesis yield, its number of steps, presence of chiral center(s), and process mass intensity, the API carbon footprint is better predicted by its wholesale cost. Corporate emissions (34.5%), API production (28.5%), and medicine manufacturing (25.5%) are the most impactful contributors to medicine carbon footprints, while medicine packaging (5.3%), transport (3.6%), and excipients (2.7%) are less significant. Variations from one medicine to another are substantial. The mean carbon footprint of a medicine box is 8.47 kgCO2eq/box (median 1.46 kgCO2eq, 95% CI 0.34–73.98). Medicines' carbon footprint is correlated with their price but not linearly, as low-cost medicines have significantly higher emission factors of 0.2–0.3 kgCO2/€ versus 0.05–0.1 kgCO2/€ for high-cost drugs. Orphan and innovative medicines tend to have higher carbon footprints. InterpretationMedicine carbon footprints are highly variable. This database allows for a better understanding of the carbon footprint associated with medicines, in order to better eco-design care pathways.

Impact of Environmental Laws Pertaining to Pollution Problems in Pharma and Chemical Sectors in India

Medical waste is regarded as a hazardous waste of a specific kind because of its high toxicity, presence of radioactive and toxic compounds, and propensity to cause sickness. The degree to which bacteria and viruses are present in medical waste, the dosage and type of exposure, and the degree to which the body is resistant to these pathogens Trash from isolation rooms for patients with infectious disorders, bacterial, infectious, and biological agent residues, waste from sterilization and disinfection, blood, serums, and plasma, and pharmaceutical residues are all considered to be medical waste. This manual offers suggestions for reducing trash creation through source reduction and recycling as well as an explanation of the processes that produce waste in hospitals. Hospitals will benefit by restricting the age of these materials at the source or reusing the wastes on or off site in light of the fact that doing so will limit removal expenses and liabilities connected with discarding hazardous waste. Compared to industrial facilities, general medical and surgical hospitals produce less hazardous wastes overall, although they do so in a number of different forms. Pharmaceuticals were formerly believed to enter the environment largely through usage or improper disposal. It was discovered that some production facilities were the sources of substantially higher ambient concentrations than those brought on by drug use. For both authorities and the pharmaceutical industry, the widespread discovery of waste medicines in environmental samples and the dangers posed by their introduction into wildlife habitats are key issues. Pharmaceutical firms should understand that reducing drug use and environmental damage is in their own best interests because doing so will prevent the emergence of drug resistance, which will prolong the shelf life of their medications. Changes in public and worldwide regulations, the reception of reasonable environmental principles inside current business standards, and requests from medical care suppliers and patients are likely impetuses for activity. Yet, clients can't pursue taught decisions because of the shortage of data about the wellspring of drugs and the impacts of creation on the climate. We suggest that one of several crucial strategies for lowering pollution from medicine manufacture would be improved transparency throughout the entire production chain.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF QUALITY COSTS AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PRODUCT QUALITY (A CASE STUDY AT PT INDUSTRI JAMU DAN FARMASI SIDO MUNCUL TBK)

The use of herbal medicine products has seen a decline in trust due to a lack of scientific evidence proving their effectiveness, perceptions of unsafe or unhygienic ingredients, and the negative stigma that views herbal medicine as an outdated form of treatment. However, herbal medicine is believed to have fewer side effects due to the use of natural ingredients passed down through generations. Despite this, many herbal products with chemical ingredients and easily accessible imported herbal products negatively impact the development of traditional herbal medicines, especially in small-scale industries that lack standardization in line with Good Traditional Medicine Manufacturing Practices. Quality costs are the expenses incurred to perform all activities related to the development of product quality. These costs include prevention, appraisal, internal failure, and external failure costs. Quality costs serve as an indicator of product quality success and competitive advantage. PT Industri Jamu dan Farmasi Sido Muncul, the largest herbal medicine producer in Indonesia, strives to improve product quality through consistent supervision and quality enhancement. This study employs a case study method to analyze the relationship between the implementation of quality costs and efforts to improve product quality at PT Sido Muncul. The findings indicate that effective quality cost control contributes to product quality improvement, reduces defective products, lowers costs, and increases profits. Sido Muncul emphasizes the use of science, technology, and research to create high-quality products. Thus, significant investments in product quality improvement provide the company with a competitive advantage, enabling it to maintain and increase its market share. Keywords: Cost Concept, Product Quality, Quality Costs

Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of PCL/PLA/DMSO2 Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering

Bone tissue engineering shows potential for regenerating or replacing damaged bone tissues by utilizing biomaterials renowned for their biocompatibility and structural support capabilities. Among these biomaterials, polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic acid (PLA) have gained attention due to their biodegradability and versatile applications. However, challenges such as low degradation rates and poor mechanical properties limit their effectiveness. Dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) has emerged as a potential additive to address these limitations, offering benefits such as reduced viscosity, increased degradation time, and enhanced surface tension. In this study, we investigate tailored composites comprising PLA, PCL, and DMSO2 to enhance mechanical properties and hydrophilicity. Through material characterization and mechanical testing, we found that the addition of DMSO2 led to improvements in the yield strength, modulus, and hydrophilicity of the composites. PCL and DMSO2 10, 20, and 30 wt% were premixed, and 20 wt% PCL + 10, 20, and 30 wt% DMSO2 were mixed with PLA. Specifically, PLA/PCL/DMSO2 composites exhibited higher yield strengths and moduli compared to pure PLA, pure PCL, and PLA/PCL composites. Moreover, the hydrophilicity of the composites increased with DMSO2 concentration, facilitating cell attachment. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of –COOH and –COH bands in PLA/PCL/DMSO2 composites, indicating chemical interactions between DMSO2 and the polymer matrix. Fractography analysis revealed enhanced interface adhesion in PLA/PCL/DMSO2 composites due to the hydrogen bonding. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of PLA/PCL/DMSO2 composites in bone tissue engineering applications, offering improved mechanical properties and enhanced cell compatibility. The findings contribute to the advancement of biomaterials for additive manufacturing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Noninvasive, label-free image approaches to predict multimodal molecular markers in pluripotency assessment

Manufacturing regenerative medicine requires continuous monitoring of pluripotent cell culture and quality assessment while eliminating cell destruction and contaminants. In this study, we employed a novel method to monitor the pluripotency of stem cells through image analysis, avoiding the traditionally used invasive procedures. This approach employs machine learning algorithms to analyze stem cell images to predict the expression of pluripotency markers, such as OCT4 and NANOG, without physically interacting with or harming cells. We cultured induced pluripotent stem cells under various conditions to induce different pluripotent states and imaged the cells using bright-field microscopy. Pluripotency states of induced pluripotent stem cells were assessed using invasive methods, including qPCR, immunostaining, flow cytometry, and RNA sequencing. Unsupervised and semi-supervised learning models were applied to evaluate the results and accurately predict the pluripotency of the cells using only image analysis. Our approach directly links images to invasive assessment results, making the analysis of cell labeling and annotation of cells in images by experts dispensable. This core achievement not only contributes for safer and more reliable stem cell research but also opens new avenues for real-time monitoring and quality control in regenerative medicine manufacturing. Our research fills an important gap in the field by providing a viable, noninvasive alternative to traditional invasive methods for assessing pluripotency. This innovation is expected to make a significant contribution to improving regenerative medicine manufacturing because it will enable a more detailed and feasible understanding of cellular status during the manufacturing process.

How the “tides” have turned in pharma manufacturing

How the “tides” have turned in pharma manufacturing Two seasoned experts from CPI, Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, detail how the “tides” have turned in pharma manufacturing. Oligonucleotides and peptides are two of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical drug modalities with the potential to revolutionise the treatment of many human diseases. The incredible demand for new type II diabetes and obesity peptide therapies recently launched by Novo Nordisk (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly (tirzepatide) and the acceleration in approvals of oligonucleotide therapies make them a hot topic in the pharmaceutical world.

Application scenario design and prospect of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in intelligent manufacturing and supply chain of traditional Chinese medicine

Intelligent manufacturing technologies, including databases, mathematical modeling, and information systems have played a significant role in process control, production management, and supply chain management in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) industry. However, their ability to process and utilize unstructured data, such as research and development reports, batch production records, quality inspection records, and supplier documents, is relatively weak. For text, images, language, and other unstructured data, generative artificial intelligence(AI) technology has shown strong potential for development in extracting information, extracting knowledge, semantic retrieval, and content generation. Generative AI is expected to provide a feasible set of tools for the utilization of unstructured data resources in the TCM industry. Based on years of research and industrial application experience in TCM intelligent manufacturing technology, this study reviewed the current situation of intelligent manufacturing in TCM and the utilization of unstructured data, analyzed the application value of generative AI in the TCM manufacturing process and supply chain, summarized four typical application scenarios, including intelligent pharmaceutical knowledge base/knowledge graph, intelligent on-the-job trai-ning, intelligent production quality control, and intelligent supply chain. Furthermore, this study also explained the data collection and processing, business process design, application potential, and value of each scenario based on industry demands. Finally, based on the integration of generative AI and TCM industrial models, the study proposed a preliminary concept of a smart industrial brain for TCM, aiming to provide a reference for the application of AI technology in the field of TCM manufacturing.

A Review of Additive Manufacturing in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

A Review of Additive Manufacturing in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Identification and Classification of Herbal Medicine Marketing Problems from the Perspective of Manufacturers, Pharmaceutical Distribution Companies, Pharmacies, and Consumers in Iran

Background: Despite the increase in the desire to consume herbal medicines and the growing concern of people about their health, as well as the increase in the number of specialized herbal medicine manufacturing companies and pharmacies, these products still have a small market share in the domestic market. Therefore, this research seeks to identify and categorize the marketing problems of herbal medicines with a systemic approach from the perspectives of actors active in this chain (companies producing herbal medicines, pharmaceutical distribution companies, pharmacies and consumers) and provide practical solutions to improve these problems. Methods: The current research is exploratory in nature and qualitative in type. To better identify the marketing problems of herbal medicines, semi-structured interviews were used, and using purposive and snowball sampling methods, interviews were conducted with knowledgeable people in 14 manufacturing companies, 13 pharmaceutical distribution companies, 22 pharmacies and 40 consumers of herbal medicines in 2022. Quantitative content analysis was also used to analyze the text of the interviews. Results: The identified problems are in three short-term, medium-term and long-term time frames, and from another perspective, these problems are located at the three organizational, industrial and macro level. About half of the marketing problems of herbal medicines are located in the three houses of the matrix, i.e. in the houses of organization-mid-term (16 %), industry-short-term (15 %) and organization-short-term (14 %). Also, based on the normalized data, about half of the marketing problems of herbal medicines are related to the non-availability of these medicines (7.7 %), lack of scientific visits by doctors (6.8 %), lack of appropriate and sufficient advertising (6.2 %), returns due to expiration dates (5 %), lack of confidence in the effectiveness (4.8 %), low offers and discounts (4.4 %), high prices (4.1 %), difficulty in collecting claims (3.6 %), low variety of products (2.9 %) and long production time (2.8 %). Conclusion: The government managers of the country can address macro-level issues by controlling the inflation rate, accelerating the settlement time of insurance and government organizations with distribution companies, reducing the time of collecting claims, and raising public awareness regarding herbal medicines. In the industry sector, there is a need to establish national distribution companies for herbal medicines and enhance the research, supply, production, and distribution processes. It is also important to improve the collaboration between manufacturers and pharmacies, as well as facilitate communication with international scientific societies. At the organizational level, managers can boost productivity by enhancing the quality of products and packaging, conducting scientific visits, and publishing credible scientific articles to convince doctors and consumers about the benefits of herbal medicines

Impact of Digital Marketing in Pharmaceutical Industry

Digital marketing is an essential tool these days to build the image of any organization in the market and among customers. Digital marketing helps to provide basic knowledge about the organization through different posts and updates on social media. Digital marketing helps the organization post the feed and update their customers with activities and services. Digital marketing refines the brand image and provides the organization with proper information about the choices of customers. The pharmaceutical industry is a part of the healthcare industry, which is engaged in the manufacturing of medicines. The pharmaceutical industry is growing day by day. The pharmaceutical industry is also moving towards digital marketing as the competition is increasing day by day with different challenges. Digital marketing is helping the organization provide services to upgrade customers' knowledge. The pharmaceutical industry is following FMCG companies to understand digital marketing and how to upgrade the organization and product through different platforms. The pharmaceutical industry is adopting different digital marketing strategies to promote its brand and organization on different social media platforms. By utilizing digital marketing, pharmaceutical companies can reach a wider audience and engage with customers in a more personalized way. This allows them to stay competitive in the market and adapt to changing consumer behaviors.