This year’s Pharmapack Awards winners include an injection moulding technology that replaces plastics with pulp; a system that can turn standard prefilled syringes into dual-chamber solutions for lyophilized drugs; and an intra-nasal delivery device for comfortable and targeted drug administration.
Two second-place entries were also presented with a Highly Commended award this year.
The Health Product Awards are open to the entire pharma industry. This year’s Patient-Centric design award went to Dr. Ferrer Biopharma for its GentleMist Technology, an intra-nasal drug delivery device designed to improve comfort, targeted drug delivery, and therapeutic benefits.
Pressure exerted during the administration of traditional nozzles can cause discomfort and pain in patients, which could decrease the likelihood that a patient complies with their prescribed treatment and affects their overall experience. GentleMist Technology aims to overcome this with advanced fluid dynamics principles and Dr. Ferrer Biopharma’s knowledge of engineering to provide a gentler, more effective nasal spray bottle.
Meanwhile, Rotor Print was the winner in the Eco-Design category. Its recyclable stick narrows down the conventional three, four, or five multi-material layers of a conventional alternative, which are usually made of inseparable polyester, paper, aluminium, and polyethylene and are difficult to recycle.
Instead, Rotor Print’s solution features three layers made of the same material in pursuit of complete recyclability. It is apparently compatible with the same processes as conventional sticks, which negates the need for investments in new machinery.
Also in the Eco-Design category, Klin-Loc Medical’s Needleless Medical Vial was a Highly Commended entry. It claims to be the only vial and cap system that is completely needle-free and can be packaged during the fill/finish process.
A medical-grade polymer threaded nipple is attached to an elastomer septum in a patented composition. Its Flip-Off cap can be flipped and its Luer-Lock threaded syringe twisted to access the contents inside.
Meanwhile, the Exhibitor Awards aim to uplift ‘excellence’ in both packaging and start-up innovations.
Nissha Europe was named as the winner in the Packaging Innovation section of the Exhibitor Innovation category. Its Pulp-Injection Autoinjector Component is a new injection moulding technology that replaces plastics with pulp.
Making use of both pulp and starch, the solution can apparently be used for both device components and secondary packaging to reduce plastic consumption. The resultant products are thought to be recyclable in existing paper recycling systems.
Even so, the rigidity of Pulp-Injection is expected to facilitate complex designs and high dimensional accuracy.
In another Highly Commended entry, Coradin’s GREENIS dispenser is reportedly made from 75% post-consumer plastic and seeks to help consumers accurately dispense serums and creams.
This year’s Start-Up Innovation Award was given to Capa Valve Ltd. Its system features two small parts, which can be implemented into standard prefilled syringes to compartmentalize it into a dual-chamber device.
With only a small number of companies currently offering dual chamber syringes for sequential delivery liquid of premixed diluent and lyophilized drugs – a shortage attributed to their cost and perceived complexity – Capa Valve’s system can apparently be produced for any standard syringe utilizing known fill/finish technology at a comparatively low cost.
Tara Dougal, content director for Pharma at Informa, commented: “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.”
Also on display at Pharmapack 2024 was a range of pharmaceutical packaging solutions from Berry Global Healthcare. This included a new dry powder inhaler for combination drugs; an ophthalmic nozzle designed for safe and reliable administration; and a child-resistant closure featuring digital technology for improved medication adherence.
So, too, did TekniPlex Healthcare and Alpek Polyester unveil the ‘world’s first’ pharmaceutical-grade PET blister film containing post-consumer recycled content.
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:
The L’Oréal approach to packaging sustainability
The way we talk about plastic needs to change – here’s how to get it right
What steps is Apple taking to make its packaging more sustainable?
No comments yet