Pharmapack Expects Accelerated Growth in Drug Delivery and Packaging, Mirroring Overall Industry

It has been reported that 2018 has the potential to be a record year for novel drug approvals by FDA-potentially rising to 64 before the year’s end, according to Vantage. Mirroring this innovative trend, Pharmapack Europe has announced that innovation in packaging and drug delivery is also rising.

"Over the past 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 in packaging and drug delivery," said Silvia Forroova, event director Pharmapack.

Next year’s event will once again play host to the ‘Start-up Hub’, which offers early-stage companies a platform to promote new technologies in the fields of pharmaceutical packaging, labeling, drug device design, and engineering. As a bonus feature, companies who have a Start-up Hub stand are also offered the opportunity to enter the start-up pitching competition, which includes an opportunity to win prizes and an open discussion with the Start-up Advisory board members.

"It’s a hugely exciting time and our Start-up Hub has been specifically designed as a low-cost solution to bring these breakthrough companies to a wider audience," added Forroova. "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 and Adelphe for the Pharmapack Awards to increase its global prominence and encourage the widest possible spread of innovators to take part," she continued.

Entries for the Pharmapack Awards are already open for submissions into the ‘Exhibitor Innovation’ and ‘Health Products’ categories. The closing date for submissions is Nov. 30, 2018, and winners will be revealed on the first evening of the event-Feb. 6, 2019.

The Health Product category will host two recognitions: ‘Patient-Centric Design’-which has been launched in partnership with the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council of Europe (HCPC Europe)-and ‘Europe Colombus and Eco-Design’-which has been launched alongside Adelphe.

Open to pharmaceutical, veterinary, biopharma, or OEM companies, the Health Product category entries should be a newly commercialized medicinal product that has been released on the worldwide market after Jan. 1, 2018. Non-profit organization, Aldelphe, which has now joined the judging panel, will help evaluate and pick the winner for the best innovations in eco-friendly design across both packaging and drug delivery devices.

The Exhibitor Innovation category is only open to exhibitors at the event and allows submissions of innovative solutions that are not yet available on the market. A jury of decision-makers who are all involved in R&D and the selection of packaging and drug delivery solutions for bio/pharmaceutical companies, will choose the top three innovations out of all the submissions.

Sources: Pharmapack and Vantage