Every biologic that reaches a clinic does so in a borosilicate vial. Demand for those vials is growing faster than the number of qualified suppliers, and qualification is the reason the market does not respond to price.
Why capacity does not appear
A vial line is a furnace, a forming section and a validation file. The furnace is the easy part. Validation, in particular for injectables, is a multi-year exercise with a regulator, and it does not compress.
Where capacity is being added
Announcements over the last two years cluster in Europe and India, and several are conversions of existing float or container lines rather than purpose-built borosilicate furnaces. That is faster, but the conversion risk is real.
For drug developers
Qualify two suppliers early. The cost of a second qualification is far lower than the cost of a launch delay.
