Packaging
Pharmapack 2009: the European event not to be missed
Wednesday 04. February 2009 - A new, more spacious venue, a surging number of participants. The Pharmapack congress and exhibition has grown bigger, confirming its place as European leader in the field of pharmaceutical and medical packaging and drug delivery systems.
It is in the prestigious setting of the Grande Halle de la Villette, in Paris, that the 8th edition of Pharmapack was held on the 21st and 22nd January 2009, an historic site, the beauty of which was unanimously appreciated, with a capacity (3757 square meters) that accommodated some 193 exhibitors (135 in 2008, that is, an increase of 30%), including 56% foreign exhibitors. As a natural follow-up to the increase in the number of exhibitors, the number of visitors grew by 38%. And 35% of the attendees came from abroad, representing an international audience from 44 countries.
As observed by Patrice LEWCO, Marketing Director of REXAM: «It is a pleasure to see the congress-exhibition growing and becoming ever more international».
As stressed by Sofiane MAMERI, Marketing & Communication, SLEEVER INTERNATIONAL «This congress-exhibition provides for intense networking»; it is «Clearly an easy way to do business», according to Daniel BARRAUD, Business Development Manager, DCA.
Quality participants
As in previous years, all the stakeholders involved in the development of packaging and drug delivery systems were present at the event: drug designers, packaging professionals (packaging designers and manufacturers, suppliers of medical devices, packaging and production equipment) and health professionals (hospital-based chemists, doctors, etc.) Representatives of pharmaceutical companies (packaging procurement, R & D, Marketing managers) came in large numbers to attend the lectures or exchange information with exhibitors on their stands in the « technological showcase » area, to learn about the latest innovations in the sector.
Annick COLIN, Product Development Engineer, BAXTER, underscored: « I found suppliers of raw materials with whom I have had a lot of contacts to see what is new, in the pipeline».
Robbert J VAN MEERWIJK, M & S Director, SOLVAY INJECTABLES noted that Pharmapack: « attracts the right people »; «There are many decision makers» according to Thilo BRINKMANN, Directeur OEM Division, B.BRAUN.
Furthermore, Herle CARN, Marketing and Commercial Manager, ARJOWIGGINS SECURITY, France, considers that the subject-matter and range of lectures offered are a powerful magnet for quality visitors: «The lectures are perfect; they make it possible to address topics that draw a more specialized population. »
Numerous new avenues for innovation
Faithful to one of prime objectives of Pharmapack, namely to highlight the areas with prospects for innovation, the 2009 conference programme addressed « patient nutrition », « packaging of drugs for clinical trials » and « packaging of liquid forms for diabetes ». This thrust made it possible to re-situate packaging in these fields in terms of patient and care-giver issues.
Furthermore, it underscored the crucial role of future packagings and delivery systems in boosting compliance, improving treatment administration and facilitating drug preparation.
«For me, clinical nutrition is a key contributor to the safety and efficacy of surgical and medical treatment of patient. Consequently packaging is an interesting part of the clinical nutrition product, and it should be covered by Pharmapack topics » noted Catherine BLANCHON, Operations, Supply Chain Quality Management, Nestlé Nutrition.
Marylène DELAUNAY, Clinical Packaging Operations, Vitry, Production Manager, SANOFI-AVENTIS, France, observed that : « Drugs for clinical trials are less well known and are, moreover, as, if not more, complicated than commercial drugs. It is therefore important to stress the differences». Annick TIBI, Pharmacist in charge of Clinical Trials, AP-HP, also insisted on the fact that for clinical trials : « packaging is both a medium for traceability, information and a vector for safety in the course of this very special process». Furthermore, Dominique DELDYCKE, Products for Clinical Research Department Management, Vitry, SANOFI-AVENTIS explained that it is: « Very important to address these issues as packaging for clinical trials is the first step, without which there can be no subsequent production, so it is very important and little known. It calls for a huge number of innovations; we have at all times to find the best packaging to achieve proper protocol compliance. I believe it is of paramount importance»
Isabelle DEBRIX, Pharmacist, Hôpital Tenon, who chaired the session on diabetes, added: « It is fundamental to have a session specifically dedicated to this pathology, and above all to ensure efforts are made in the field of packaging to improve drug delivery and compliance »
The programme also gave pride of place to themes that focused on the technological aspect of packaging and dispensing systems innovation while encompassing the current concerns of enterprises in terms of cost optimization, sustainable development and regulations.
Excellent year for Pharmapack Awards 2009
« As Pharmapack is now held every year, the number of candidates could have slackened. Yet we noted the exact opposite as we received more proposals than in 2008 » pointed out Prof. Philippe Arnaud, member of the jury and presenter at the Pharmapack Awards Ceremony, Hospital Pharmacist, Head of Department Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard AP-HP, Expert with the « Agence Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé », France.
He felt this proved not only that Pharmapack is a recognized platform for communication to promote packaging and drug delivery system innovations but also that its yearly organization is in step with the dynamic momentum that prevails in the sector.
Awarded by a Jury of health products packaging professionals, Pharmapack Awards 2009 singled out packaging placed on the French market between the 1st December 2007 and the 26th November 2008. Noteworthy is the fact that for the first time, a « Compliance » Pharmapack prize was awarded in the veterinary category, where, as mentioned by the jury, innovations abound. It was thus only natural for this area to be represented at the Pharmapack Awards.
The Pharmapack Award Winners in 2009
Pharmapack Award for « Proper Drug Use » – Actonelcombi – P & G Pharmaceuticals
Pharmapack Award for « Safe Use » – Efferalgan – BMS
Pharmapack Award for « Medical Device » – UriSet 24 avec Monovette, SARSTEDT
Pharmapack Award for « Compliance», veterinary category – easOtic – Virbac
Pharmapack Certificate « Cold chain compliance » – Airliner, Coldpack
The 9th edition of Pharmapack and Biomedevice will be held on the 1st and 2nd February 2010 in the Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, France.