Interview with Carol Grassi Mircich, chief commercial marketing and innovation officer at SGD Pharma by Liza Laws, editor-in-chief, Discover Pharma. 

This Q&A examines key insights from DCAT Week 2026 in New York, including pharmaceutical supply chain sentiment, GLP-1-driven demand growth, and ongoing pressures across injectables, biologics, and global pharma logistics.

Liza Laws You were at DCAT Week, which recently took place in New York. What were your key impressions this year in terms of overall sentiment across the pharma supply chain?

Carol: It was a very good DCAT Week for us. We met all our key customers and partners, and our schedule was fully booked every day with strategic, high-level discussions.

In terms of the broader industry, the picture is more complex. There are several different trends playing out. One of the most prominent is the growth of the obesity market, particularly GLP-1 therapies, which is clearly driving demand in parts of the pharma supply chain.

At the same time, areas such as immunology and oncology are still growing, but at a slower pace than in previous years. The rest of the industry—such as antibiotics, CNS, and diagnostics—is relatively sluggish, with low single-digit growth.

We are also seeing pressure from external factors like China’s volume-based procurement policies, which can lead to loss of business for some products, particularly generics. On top of that, geopolitical uncertainty and tariff-related issues are making logistics and supply chains more challenging. Overall, it’s a mixed picture.

Liza: Would you say there’s been a clear shift toward GLP-1 therapies in terms of industry priorities?

Carol: GLP-1 is certainly a major driver, but it depends on the delivery format. It is primarily linked to pre-filled syringes and drug delivery devices.

There has also been development in solid oral dosage forms, but injectables remain the most relevant area for us.

We support based on our quality, service, and innovation, which allows us to outperform the competition.

Liza: Were you seeing more urgency around supply chain security or cost optimisation this year?

Carol: Both. Costs have increased significantly in Asia, with some impact also in Europe and the US, which inevitably creates pricing pressure.

However, supply chain security remains the top priority. Our customers need absolute reliability to ensure uninterrupted patient supply. Avoiding shortages is critical, hence secure and consistent delivery is central to every discussion.

Liza: What was SGD Pharma’s core message going into DCAT Week this year?

Carol: Our message was one of continuity of the deployment of our strategy and growth. We are reinforcing our position as a leader in pharmaceutical glass packaging, particularly for injectable drugs.

We continue to invest in capacity, quality, and vertical integration. For example, we strengthened our supply chain through partnerships in tubing with our JV with Corning, and expanded manufacturing capabilities in India and Europe with Alphial acquisition in Q4 2025

We also announced new collaborations in the US, particularly in the ready-to-use (RTU) market, with Prince Sterilization which is an important strategic area for us.

Liza: Was there strong interest in these initiatives during DCAT Week?

Carol: Yes, absolutely. We had very productive discussions and strong engagement from customers.

There is also some tension in the market due to strategy shifts among competitors in the US, which makes customers more focused on supply security in Type I molded glass. In that context, we are able to demonstrate that SGD Pharma is a stable, reliable, focused on quality and sustainable deliveries and fully committed partner with available capacity.

Liza: Are clients engaging earlier in the drug development process or still mainly at late-stage commercial supply?

Carol: It varies. With generics companies, we often engage to replicate existing products and ensure compatibility.

In other cases, we support early development where companies are dealing with compatibility challenges or highly sensitive formulations. Our moulded glass, for example, offers strong chemical compatibility compared to tubular glass, which can be critical for certain drugs.

So we are active at both early and late stages, depending on the customer need.

Liza: What types of customer needs were most prominent at DCAT—scalability, regulatory support, innovation, or supply reliability?

Carol: Supply security was clearly the number one priority. Long-term agreements and guaranteed availability are central.

Quality is also always fundamental—it is non-negotiable in every discussion. Beyond that, customers are interested in innovation, cost optimisation, throughput improvements, and ESG performance.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, especially as customers look at decreasing their Scope 3 emissions. Glass packaging plays a significant role in their carbon footprint, so this is a growing focus area for us and we are very committed in that aspect.

Liza: How would you describe current pressure on injectable drug supply chains?

Carol: At the moment, the main pressure is on logistics rather than capacity. There is still sufficient capacity in the system overall.

However, geopolitical factors and transportation challenges are creating complexity. The bigger strategic question is not capacity shortage, but how quickly new drugs can be developed and brought to market.

Liza: Are you seeing increasing demand for specialised solutions driven by biologics and complex injectables?

Carol: Yes, definitely. Biologics and GLP-1 therapies are strong drivers of demand for high-quality injectable packaging.

These products require extremely high standards in terms of chemical compatibility, particle control, and overall quality. Our vials must ensure no contamination, no protein aggregation, and optimal stability for sensitive formulations.

Liza: Is sustainability becoming a major factor in customer decision-making?

Carol: Yes, increasingly so. Sustainability is both a strategic priority for us and an expectation from customers.

We are investing heavily in decarbonisation, including furnace upgrades and plant improvements. Customers are also more focused on reducing Scope 3 emissions, where glass packaging is a significant contributor.

We have been awarded by the EcoVadis Platinum medal for the second time in a row, with the highest score of 90/100. We are happy to lead our sector in its domain. We are on our trajectory to reduce our CO₂ emissions by 42% till 2030 (scope 1 and 2 versus 2022) and align with limiting globnal temperatures to 1.5^oC with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

 

We are seeing more requests for sustainability data and transparency in procurement decisions.

Liza: What differentiates SGD Pharma in conversations with CDMOs and pharmaceutical manufacturers today?

Carol: Our reputation is built on quality, reliability, and service. We are known for strong customer relationships and continuous improvement.

We also stand out in sustainability performance, innovation, and our leadership in moulded glass. Our customer satisfaction and loyalty scores are consistently very high.

We are highly focused and efficient in delivering solutions that meet real market needs.

Liza: Where do you see the strongest growth opportunities for SGD Pharma in the near term?

Carol: Excluding geopolitical and tariff-related disruptions, Asia, India and the US are key growth markets for us.

Innovation is also a major driver, particularly in ready-to-use (RTU) platforms. These areas represent the strongest near-term opportunities for SGD Pharma.

Liza: What do you think is the most misunderstood aspect of sterile glass packaging in biologics manufacturing?

Carol: There is often a lack of awareness about the differences between glass types and manufacturing processes.

Many customers think in terms of tubular glass, without fully understanding the advantages of tubular glass and moulded glass in terms of chemical and mechanical performance.

Greater awareness of these differences could lead to better-informed decisions and improved outcomes for sensitive drug formulations.

Liza: What is the biggest bottleneck in injectable drug development today?

Carol: The biggest challenge is financing and pipeline development.

Drug development takes many years—often over a decade—and requires sustained investment. For startups in particular, securing long-term funding is often the main barrier to success.

Liza: Finally, if you had to summarise DCAT Week in one message for SGD Pharma, what would it be?

Carol: DCAT Week is a valuable opportunity to reconnect with customers and partners, reaffirm our strategy, and demonstrate our commitment to quality, expansion, and sustainability.

It also helps us strengthen visibility in the market and create new opportunities. Overall, it was a very successful week for SGD Pharma.