Pharmapack Europe announced the winners of the 2024 Pharmapack Awards. Open to the entire pharma industry, six winners have been chosen across the ‘Exhibitor Innovation’ and ‘Health Product’ awards.
SUMMARY
- The Exhibitor Innovation awards recognized Nissha Europe GmbH's injection moulding technology for its 'packaging innovation.' Capa Valve Ltd was the 'start-up initiative' winner for the Capa Valve system that provides easy administration of a combination of injectable drugs. And CORADIN was 'highly commended' for a dispenser that offers more precise dispensing.
- In the Health Products awards, Rotor Print was recognized for 'eco-design' for its recyclable stick for pharmaceutical products. Dr. Ferrer Biopharma won the award for 'patient-centric design' for GentleMist Technology, which changes the way medications are delivered intra-nasally. And Klim-Loc Medical was 'highly commended' for its needle-less vial and cap system.
EXHIBITOR AWARDS
- Nissha Europe GmbH won the 'Packaging Innovation' award for its Pulp-Injection Autoinjector Component, a new injection moulding technology that uses pulp instead of plastics. Pulp-Injection is suitable for device components as well as secondary packaging. It mainly utilizes pulp and starch, which results in a significant reduction in plastic use. In addition, components made in this way can be recycled within a standard paper recycling system. Yet, thanks to its rigidity, Pulp-Injection can achieve the complex design and high dimensional accuracy.
- The 'Start-Up Initiative' award went to Capa Valve Ltd. for a system that allows the compartmentalization of a standard syringe into a dual-chamber device. The Capa Valve involves the installation of two small parts within existing standard syringes suitable for prefilled applications. Currently, there are a few companies offering dual-chamber syringes for either sequential delivery liquids or premixing of a diluent and lyophilised drug—largely due to their cost and perceived complexity. However, the key feature of the Capa Valve system is that it can be produced at a comparatively low cost for any standard-size syringe utilizing known fill/finish technology to provide a range of functionality.
- CORADIN was 'Highly Commended' for its GREENIS Dispenser. As well as being designed to aid the accurate dispensing of serums and creams, it also is made from 75% post-consumer recycled plastic.
HEALTH PRODUCT AWARDS
- In the 'Eco-Design' section, the winner was Rotor Print for its development of a recyclable stick for a wide range of pharmaceutical products and applications. Most conventional sticks are composed of three, four or five layers of different materials, and these structures cannot be recycled as it is impossible to separate the different layers. Rotor Print's new stick is three layers of the same material, making it completely recyclable.
- Dr. Ferrer Biopharma was recognized for 'Patient-Centric Design' for its GentleMist Technology, a drug delivery device that changes he way medications are delivered intra-nasally, offering enhanced comfort, targeted drug delivery, and therapeutic benefits. Traditional nozzles often generate discomfort due to the pressure exerted during administration, thus hindering patient compliance and adversely affecting the overall treatment experience. GMT addresses this challenge by utilizing advanced fluid dynamics principles and engineering expertise focusing on a more gentle and effective nasal spray nozzle.
- Klin-Loc Medical was 'Highly Commended' for the Klim-Loc Needleless Medical Vial, the only vial and cap system that can be packaged during the Fill/Finish process and delivered as a completely needle-less package. Its patented composition features a medical-grade polymer threaded nipple affixed to an elastomer septum. It only requires a flip of the Flip-Off cap and a twist of the Luer-Lock (threaded) syringe to gain access to the contents.
Commenting on the innovation displayed in this year’s Pharmapack Europe Awards, Tara Dougal, Content Director - Pharma at Informa, said, “What so impressive about our 2024 winners is that all the entries are advancing technologies that either bring about vital improvements in greener production, or are putting the patient front and centre of the development process. I congratulate all our winners on their commitment and contributions to the industry.”
