Packaging

PHARMAPACK- How Innovation in Packaging and Drug Delivery Packaging Enhance Health product safety

Tuesday 26. February 2008 - The 7th edition of the Pharmapack congress/exhibition was held on the 6th and 7th February 2008 at the Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie, in Paris. It was attended by 2,024 participants from 49 countries.

The exhibition gathered the leading suppliers of materials, technologies and services, manufacturers, and packaging and medical device manufacturers, that is, over 130 exhibitors in a setting on a human scale.
Jean-François Bauer, Mikron, Switzerland commented « For us, Pharmapack is the best medical device showcase! We meet the project managers, the engineers, the production managers, who come with specific objectives. »

At the opening session, Prof. Jean-Claude Chaumeil, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université René Descartes Paris V, France, introduced the programme for these two days and the main theme of this 2008 edition on the specific constraints linked to cancer treatment.

The lectures took stock of the following main points: regulatory framework, production, packaging, compliance, reconstitution, administration, patient and health worker safety, respect for the environment.

Dr Joseph Gligorov, Oncology Department, Hôpital Tenon (France) noted:
« I welcome this choice as cancer is a major public health problem on a planetary scale. It is important to have a platform for exchanges like Pharmapack so those who care for the patients, the enterprises developing the drugs and those who design the administration devices can compare experiences and shed light on new approaches to be used in the development of new cancer drugs. »

He recalled current and future problems in patient management and also stressed the need to refocus the development of administration devices on the patient, taking account of his or her perception of the treatment, social environment and needs in terms of accurate doses, out-patient delivery systems or new oral forms, and safety. At the end of his statement, he warmly encouraged all the stakeholders to view patients « … as valuable partners !».

Lectures on Wednesday morning addressed cancer treatment packaging:
o Evolution of technologies and regulatory aspects in the production of injectable cytotoxics, Paul Martin, Pierre Fabre Médicament, France
o Packaging and Oncology : review and prospects, Vincent Langlade, SGD, France, who pointed out :
« Pharmapack is known and widely recognized. All the stakeholders in this business are present. I firmly believe that Pharmapack is a good mean for France, and, increasingly, international circles, to convey messages about innovation. »
o Parenteral packaging improved by coating technology, Dr. Robert Hormes, SCHOTT Schweiz AG, noted :
« Pharmapack is a very good platform. The right platform to promote innovations. “
o Market and technology overview; polyolefin flexible primary packaging materials for parenteral and other pharmaceutical solutions, Lawrence Norpoth, Sealed Air SrL, Italy

The coffee break, which took place in the exhibition area next to the conference hall, was an appropriate time to move from theory to practice; they commented:
Jean-Paul Berreby, Recipharm Monts « I am positively impressed by the number of exhibitors ! Pharmapack is a trade fair on a human scale ! »
Daniele Giorgi, Abbott, Ireland « I like the fact that there are a large range of suppliers; I could see American and European companies together. It’s a good possibility to make business, it’s effective and practical!”

Laurent Lalmand, UCB PHARMA “Pharmapack fully meets my expectations !»

In the second half of the morning, speakers addressed
o Aseptic filling in single-use isolators, Jean-Pascal Zambaux, D-Lab, France
o Sterilization of pharmaceutical and medical products , Emmanuel Goujard, B. Braun Melsungen AG (OEM Division), Germany, who stated :
« Pharmapack is ideal because the 2 entities are present : the pharmaceutical world and the medical world ! »
o D2F (Direct To Fill), prefillable, presterilized containers, Dr. Peter A. Schröder, MGlas AG, Germany
o A new, secure, validated port system for the transfer of syringe pistons, Brigitte LECHIFFRE, GETINGE LA CALHENE, FRANCE
o In-line sterilization tunnel using electron beams, Philippe FONTCUBERTA, LINAC TECHNOLOGIES, France
o Excellence in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical packaging, Simon Strothers, ITCM, UK

The lunch in the exhibition area that followed was a perfect time for meeting people and « networking ». They said :
Herlé Carn, Arjowiggins Security « I am one of the Pharmapack faithfuls; it is a very friendly context that makes it possible to speak with people several times, have lunch together….»

Lectures in the afternoon focussed on the packaging of liquid forms, reconstitution systems, injectables and medical devices, health worker and patient safety. They were chaired by Dr Isabelle Debrix, Pharmacist, Hôpital Tenon, France, who pointed out:
« Pharmapack is a forum for exchanges among the various health professions. »

And Jean-Marc Binet, JMB Conseil, France. Their opening statement was followed by papers on:
o Developments in the cancer drug market , Dr Sybille Esser Ph. D., Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, who mentioned:
« … It’s a very good platform to get a good overview of the systems on the market … »
o Innovative packaging technologies and application systems for oncology therapeutics , Mike Schaefers, West Pharmaceutical Services, Germany and Freddy Zinger, Medimop Medical Projects, Israël
o Safety Systems for prefilled syringes, the past, the present, the future, Christer Andreasson, Safety Syringes, Inc., USA, who added
« Pharmapack is the primary exhibition for the European market. It is very important for us.”
o New mixing concept -ensuring safety for patients and healthcare professionals. A case of development and cooperation between Promens and the Danish hospitals, Lais Andersen, SAF (Hospital Pharmacy Fyn) and Per Hansen, Promens Medical Packaging A/S, Danemark, who emphasized :
«All the right decision makers are coming at Pharmapack »
o Needle stick injuries : risks, regulations and means of prevention , Jean-Paul Crepel, PLASTEF, France, who exclaimed :
« The trade fair not to be missed ! »

After a Q&A session on these particularly topical issues, a break with a light snack was welcome. A good opportunity for the participants to continue discussions with the speakers and exhibitors while visiting the exhibition. The second part of the afternoon comprised statements on:
o Micro-injection – state of the art, Philippe E. Laurent, BD Medical – Pharmaceutical Systems, France
o Injectables and medical devices, Ralf Kuenzi, Ypsomed AG, Switzerland, who enthused: « It’s a good platform! »
o Needles : protection and performance, CHRIS SCOTT, BAXA LTD, UK
o Advanced Label Technology for Pre-filled Syringes, Markus Bauss, Schreiner-Medipharm, Germany
o Optimized packaging solutions for parenteral drug delivery systems, Gerhard Breu, KÖRBER-MEDIPAK Group, Germany, who underlined :
« Pharmapack is an impressive concept: It’s compact, it’s fast … »

To wind up this first day, Dr Marie Savet, Pharmacist, Hôpital Robert Debré (France) focussed her paper on packaging for paediatric patients. She underscored:
« The needs of cancer patients are not the same depending on whether the drug is in a dry or liquid form; this is particularly true of the management of children. In addition to constraints linked to the conservation and preservation of the drug, packaging must provide for easy use and regimens that can be adjusted in the course of treatment with maximum safety ».

The cocktail party at the end of day enabled all the participants – lecturers, exhibitors, attendees and visitors – to talk together in a particularly congenial setting.

The second morning was devoted to issues linked to safety and compliance. After a welcome address to participants by Prof. Jean-Claude Chaumeil, Donna Sturgess, GlaxoSmithKline (USA) addressed the use of sensory elements in « branding » and packaging to create emotional links with consumers. Donna explained :
« By including sensory elements in packaging, one creates an emotional connection between the patient and the packaging, which contributes to proper use of the drug and patient safety. This approach, which we used with Alli, proved most worthwhile. It opens up numerous possibilities of creativity for pharmaceutical packaging. Pharmapack is truly a meeting of experts who are building the future of the pharmaceutical industry. ».

This particularly outstanding, stimulating paper was followed by:
o Innovation in pharmaceutical packaging: Re-assessing the role that packaging can play in health care , Nina Goodrich, Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging, Canada, who stated:
« Patients often have an emotional reaction to drugs and the functionality of packaging. Over and beyond product safety, disease management and compliance, it is necessary to identify and understand what functions add value for the patient, caregivers and distributors ».
o Innovative solutions for pharmaceutical blisters, Peter Loetscher, Klöckner Pentaplast Group
o Packaging development: Optimize your primary packaging materials (solid formulations) Cindy MÜLLER, Bilcare Europe and Mikir PATEL, Bilcare, USA
o High performance oxygen scavengers in pharmaceutical packaging devices, Dr Christoph Kroehnke, Airsec – Süd-Chemie, France
o Challenges in the management of pharmaceutical graphics, Albert Klein, Imagelinx Group Plc., UK

After this first set of papers, the break and series of encounters were welcome. This was followed by presentations on:
o Security requirements for pharma packagings and innovative solutions, Markus Staub, Rondo AG, Switzerland
o Identification and traceabiity, fight against counterfeit, Alastair Dand, LGR Emballages, France
o Secure unit traceability : industrial integration , Eric DARDAINE, ATT Advanced Track & Trace, France
o WEB TECHNOLOGY : reconciling packaging control and competitiveness, Jean-Luc LASNE, LAETUS France, who specified :
« … This leads to increasing numbers of in-line control points, with ever more complex tasks to perform and demand for higher output. The solutions offered by Web Technology make it possible to master control systems while integrating an unlimited number of new, heterogeneous control devices, without changing what exists. ».

After the Q&A session, the time had come for the Pharmapack Awards ceremony.

After recalling the principles for awarding the Pharmapack prizes and thanking the jury, Prof. Philippe Arnaud, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris V René Descartes, Pharmacist, Hôpital Bichat, AFSSAPS expert, pointed out
« As for the awards at previous editions, the jury members, who are independent, have singled out packaging/drug duos placed on the French market between the 1st January and the 31st December 2007, taking all the categories into account and, in particular, medical devices which are real driving forces behind innovation in the pharmaceutical sector » .

The Pharmapack « Compliance » award went to BurgoPak for the Pocketpak. This packaging stands out because of its design that aims to improve compliance. It uses a patented system that makes it possible to slide one or two blisters out of the pack, while displaying the insert. This packaging also comprises anti-counterfeit and child-resistant functions.

The Pharmapack « Safety » award went to Onko-safe developed by Ebewe Pharma. This medical device is a biodegradable polypropylene overwrap with a twist top that makes it possible to use and handle the products safely during transport, receipt and unpacking, the preparation of cytotoxics and the elimination of the packaging after use.

The Pharmapack « Medical Device » award went to Recell by C3 Clinical Cell Culture. This is a device for harvesting and seeding skin cells intra-operatively to treat burns, scars and pigment disorders. It is designed as a home pocket laboratory for cell therapy; as it is extremely easy to use, it guarantees sterility while being particularly compact.

After the lunch that followed the Pharmapack Awards ceremony, the papers in the afternoon addressed the theme « Packaging of health products and Innovation ». It was chaired by Claude Santini, President, Académie Nationale de Pharmacie, France, and Christian Saclier, Global Head of Packaging Innovation, Global Marketing OTC, NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTH, Switzerland who highlighted:
« Everyone in the pharma business is present at Pharmapack, it is an ideal context for meeting people ! »

The following papers were given:
o A new innovative Medical Device: main steps from Design to Market/ , Johan Lindqvist, Medifiq Healthcare, UK
o The E-Pill; A drug delivery concept for local-focused administration of liquid drugs, combining micro-electronics, micro-mechanics and unconventional packaging materials Johan Declerck, Tekni-Plex Europe NV, Frits Dijksman, Philips Research, The Netherlands and Jeff Shimizu, Philips Research, USA.. Frits commented :
«This concept, which combines micro-electronics, micro-mechanics and a high barrier film, provides for more precise, personalized delivery to specific sites, thereby improving the possibilities of treatment and results. », and Johan added :
« Pharmapack is the number one European show in this matter »
o Designing a pump engine for new demanding specifications, Patrice Lewko, Rexam, who specified :
« We appreciate Pharmapack because this trade fair concentrates on packaging and medical devices. »
o A new innovative concept answering the unmet needs in self injection BDTM Microinfusor/ , Joël Cotten, BD Medical – Pharmaceutical Systems, France
o Packaging Design and Functionality – AeroLin and Polyfaero as examples for packaging of liquids and creams sensitive to light or oxygen, Laurent Lambert, Lindal Group, Germany and Detlef Kaufmann, Neopac The tube, Switzerland
o Product safety thanks to the primary packaging materials, Raymond Cuany, Neopac The Tube, Switzerland, who underlined :
“Pharmapack is the perfect place for us. We had so many good contacts from Europe, East of Europe, United States …”
o Industrial vision and automated assembly, Jean-Michel Vallent, ATS Automation, France
«The Pharmapack recipe works. There are more and more people, it’s a real chain reaction … »

To wind up these two days of encounters, all the participants met for a friendly drink. By way of conclusion to this 7th edition, we shall give the floor to David Spackman, Meadwestvaco Healthcare, UK:
“One of the best shows we have visited in Europe!”

The 8th edition of Pharmapack will be held on the 21st & 22nd January 2009, Paris, Grande Halle de la Villette

In accordance with the information published, Canon Communications and Oriex have reached an agreement for the organization of the Pharmapack congress-exhibition as of the 2009 edition.

Pharmapack will be organized by Canon Communications (France) Inc., the new subsidiary of Canon Communications LLC. This company will be run by Aurore Domange, Pharmapack Manager, with the aim of continuing the development of Pharmapack on the basis of full respect of its « personality ».

Aurore Domange graduated from the Institut Supérieur du Commerce de Paris. She joined ORIEX in the spring of 2005 after participating in the launch of the Renault Mégane in Germany and setting up the Paris office of an American company that supplies digital technologies. Since the beginning of 2007, she has been in charge of the development and general organization of ORIEX events.