As part of our festive 12 days of Christmas predictions, Tjoapack looks ahead to 2026 with cautious optimism. In a year likely shaped by tighter regulation, more complex medicines and rising expectations around speed and flexibility, collaboration across the pharmaceutical contract packaging sector will matter more than ever.

Marcelo Cruz, VP business development & marketing at Tjoapack, shares his expectations for the year ahead.

Hopes and predictions for 2026

My expectation for 2026 is that the pharmaceutical contract packaging sector will continue to evolve through collaboration and innovation. Four major trends are expected to influence the coming year:

• Outsourcing will expand as pharmaceutical companies seek partners capable of providing speed, compliance, and expertise.

• The growth of biologics, biosimilars, and personalized medicines will require highly specialized packaging, particularly for injectables and temperature-sensitive items.

• The demand for small-batch and clinical trial packaging will increase, necessitating agile and adaptable operations—which is a strength we emphasize at Tjoapack.

• Additionally, serialization and anti-counterfeiting regulations will become more vital, driving the industry toward smarter, technology-enabled packaging.

If we can combine these trends with sustainability and digitalization, 2026 will be a year of opportunity. And since it’s Christmas, here’s my festive wish: may the only thing we have to wrap in a hurry next year be gifts, not emergency packaging projects!