Record year for pharma packaging and drug delivery innovation says Pharmapack

Event sees more innovation centralizing at the Paris hub with entries for the awards and start-up Hub opening

Paris, 9 November 2018:  In an all time record year for FDA approvals (48 so far in 2018), Pharmapack Europe reports that innovation is also accelerating across the drug delivery and packaging industries.  The event has become one of the main drivers helping introduce new innovations to market through its Pharmapack Awards and Start-up Hub, both of which have grown in prominence as a more diverse mixture of companies bring patient changing innovations to market.

“In the last year we have seen a tremendous proliferation of industry innovation, not just in terms of the FDA approvals, but at our event we are now seeing increasing novel technologies launching and newer market entrants explore patient friendly and ecological solutions. It’s a hugely exciting time and our Start-up Hub has been specifically designed as a low-cost solution to bring these break-through companies to a wider audience. Such is the surge in demand, our expert panel have the unenviable task of selecting only the most innovative entries. Additionally, this year we have also partnered with HCPC Europe Colombus Awards and Adelphe for the Pharmapack Awards to increase its global prominence and encourage the widest possible spread of innovators to take part.” Silvia Forroova, Event Director Pharmapack

Entries for the 2019 Pharmapack Awards are now open across both the ‘Exhibitor Innovation’ and ‘Health Products’ categories with a closing date of 30^th November 2018, winners will be unveiled live on the first evening of Pharmapack (February 6^th, 2019). The Health products category will include two winners with one for Patient-Centric Design – which is launched in partnership with HCPC Europe Colombus – and a second introduced alongside Adelphe for eco-design in health packaging and drug delivery devices.

The Health Products category is open to any visitor at the event, but submissions must be of a product that has been commercially launched after January 1^st, 2018. The award for patient centricity will be evaluated on the basis of how a pharmaceutical packaging, veterinary packaging or drug delivery system improves patients’ lives. Innovations that aid patients in taking the right dose of the right drug at the right time, as well as improving longer-term adherence are of particular interest. Additionally, judges will be looking for features that help the patient to live within their normal lifestyle – for example, easy access, portability, and ergonomic design.

Adelphe – a non-profit organization seeking to reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste – has joined the judging panel and will help evaluate and pick the winner for the best innovations in Eco-friendly design across both drug delivery devices and packaging. They will also chair a special conference session and panel discussion about Sustainability and Pharmaceutical Packaging & Devices: from Threats to Actions.

The exhibitor innovation award however is for Pharmapack Europe 2019 exhibitors that join the Innovation Gallery. This category allows entrants to present the latest innovative solutions, including those not yet available on the market (i.e. currently undergoing R&D). Awards in this category will be delivered by a jury of decision-makers involved in R&D, with the three best applications chosen as winners.

Another benefit is that the Innovation Gallery also provides exhibitors with a platform to showcase their innovations to an audience of high-level attendees ranging from CEOs and CMCs to pharmacists and business executives. Additionally, the Innovation Tour is an exclusive opportunity for innovative companies in the Gallery to have potential customers be brought direct to their presentations, via a tour led by a leading industry expert.

Finally, to bring the full spectrum of the industry from big to small, the Start-up Hub returns providing young start-up companies servicing the pharma industry with the benefit of valuable networking and learning opportunities at half the price. There are only limited slots available – the deadline for applications is 30^th November 2018 – and exhibitors will be selected by Pharmapack’s Start-up Hub Advisory Board based on the ‘uniqueness, market prospects, patient impact and savings potential of each applicant’s innovations’.

This year the board welcomes three new experts; David Braun, Global Head of Medical Device Business Solution, Merck Healthcare; Scott Gibson, Director, Advanced Device Technology and Innovation, Head of Device Technologies Innovation Center, Amgen; and Franck Lescure, Partner in charge of Life Sciences investments, Elaia Partners.

Pharmapack Europe is the leading hub for stakeholders across all parts of the drug packaging and drug delivery supply chain, with over 400 exhibitors from 31 countries present. Moreover, a series of 40 conferences will take place across the two-day event, delivered by leading consultants, executives and experts.

For further information please visit https://www.pharmapackeurope.com/