The global pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, driven by growing demand for medicines for both humans and animals.
While tailored to their respective sectors, these facilities share many foundational design and operational principles.
This report explores the dynamics of human and animal health pharmaceutical manufacturing—highlighting key similarities and differences in facility design, processes, and cost considerations.
Shared foundations, distinct needs
Both human and animal health pharmaceutical plants are built on a strong foundation of strict regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and consistent quality control. They follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards set by the WHO and EMA, which cover layout, equipment, personnel, monitoring, and documentation. From cleanroom design to aseptic processing equipment, both rely on safety, hygiene, and performance.
Despite many similarities, the sectors diverge in areas such as drug formulation and operational scale. Veterinary medicines must account for the varied physiology of different animal species, requiring diverse product development. Human health plants often use more automation and larger teams, while animal health facilities run smaller to cut costs. These differences affect investment and project scope by drug type, capacity, and location.
Both human and animal health pharmaceutical plants are built on a strong foundation of regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and quality control. They follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards set by the WHO and EMA, which cover layout, equipment, personnel, monitoring, and documentation. From cleanroom design to aseptic processing equipment, both rely on safety, hygiene, and performance.
Given the parallels between animal and human health projects, the elemental costs for both facility types are often similar. However, total cost depends on factors like project scale, production capacity, facility complexity, equipment needs, regional location, and land costs. Animal health plants may operate with smaller teams and less automation, reducing costs. Still, both demand strong investment to meet global pharmaceutical standards.
