“In the last 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. It’s a hugely exciting time and our Start-up Hub has been specifically designed as a low-cost solution to bring these break-through companies to a wider audience. 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.” Silvia Forroova, Event Director Pharmapack

Entries for the 2019 Pharmapack Awards are now open across both the ‘Exhibitor Innovation’ and ‘Health Products’ categories with a closing date of 30^th November 2018, winners will be unveiled live on the first evening of Pharmapack (February 6^th, 2019). The Health Products category will include two winners with one for Patient-Centric Design – which is launched in partnership with HCPC Europe (Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council of Europe) – and a second introduced alongside Adelphe for Eco-design in health packaging and drug delivery devices.

The Health Products category is open to pharmaceutical, veterinary, biopharma or OEM companies – they can also co-apply with their packaging or device manufacturer or supplier if the innovation is a collaborative one – but entries must be of a product that has been commercially launched after 1^st January 2018. The award for patient centricity will be evaluated on the basis of how a pharmaceutical packaging, veterinary packaging or drug delivery system improves patients’ lives. Innovations that aid patients in taking the right dose of the right drug at the right time, as well as improving longer-term adherence are of particular interest. Additionally, judges will be looking for features that help the patient to live within their normal lifestyle – for example, easy access, portability, and ergonomic design, while using the medication.

Adelphe – a non-profit organisation seeking to reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste – has joined the judging panel and will help evaluate and pick the winner for the best innovations in eco-friendly design across both packaging and drug delivery devices. They will also chair a special conference session and panel discussion about Sustainability and Pharmaceutical Packaging & Devices: from Threats to Actions on 6^th February.

The Exhibitor Innovation award however is for Pharmapack Europe 2019 exhibitors that join the Innovation Gallery. This category allows entrants to present the latest innovative solutions, including those not yet available on the market (i.e. currently undergoing R&D). Awards in this category will be delivered by a jury of decision-makers from pharma and biopharmaceutical companies involved in R&D, with the three best applications chosen as winners.

Attendees will also be able to explore this year’s Exhibitor Innovation finalists in the Innovation Gallery and even via expert guided Innovation Tours which provide an invaluable snapshot view of some of this year’s most impressive breakthrough technologies and market trends.

Finally, to bring the full spectrum of the industry from big to small, the Start-up Hub returns providing young start-up companies servicing the pharma industry with the benefit of valuable networking and learning opportunities at half the price of a regular stand. There are only limited slots available – the deadline for applications is 30^th November 2018 – and exhibitors will be selected by Pharmapack’s Start-up Hub Advisory Board based on the ‘uniqueness, market prospects, patient impact and savings potential of each applicant’s innovations’.

This year the board welcomes three new experts; David Braun, Global Head of Medical Device Business Solution, Merck Healthcare; Scott Gibson, Director, Advanced Device Technology and Innovation, Head of Device Technologies Innovation Center, Amgen; and Franck Lescure, Partner in charge of Life Sciences investments, Elaia Partners.

Pharmapack Europe is the leading hub for stakeholders across all parts of the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery supply chain, with over 400 exhibitors from 37 countries present. Moreover, a series of 40 semi-scientific conferences will take place across the two-day event, delivered by leading consultants, executives and experts. 

For further information please visit https://www.pharmapackeurope.com/

About Pharmapack

Launched in 1997, Pharmapack is the European event for Pharmaceutical Packaging, Drug Delivery, Medical Devices and Machinery. Pharmapack started as a biennial conference and exhibition, taking place every other year in Paris, until industry developments demanded a more frequent event to help the industry stay up to date on the latest trends, developments and regulations. In the past 20+ years, the event has grown from a conference with a small table-top exhibition, to an event hosting 411 exhibitors and welcoming 5,290 attendees over 2 days. In 2018, Pharmapack also featured the International Meetings Programme (business matching), an International Meetings Programme, full 2-day Conference, 1-day Symposium, Workshops, Learning Lab presentations, Awards ceremonies, a Start-up Hub, Innovation Gallery and Tours.

About Informa Exhibitions

Informa Exhibitions, the global exhibitions division of Informa PLC, enables communities across the globe to engage, experience and do business by providing them with powerful platforms to connect across key regions and market verticals. Industry insight, coupled with an innovative and customer first approach, provides Informa Exhibitions’ customers and partners with the opportunity to create business advantage and access markets, both digitally and face-to-face, 365 days of the year.

About Informa PLC

Informa PLC is a leading, international business to business information services Group, operating in over 30 countries. We create transaction-led exhibitions and content-based events, specialist data, intelligence and marketing services products, as well as scholarly research and specialist reference-led academic content. Our products and services help businesses and professionals connect, learn, do business and gain an edge over the competition. Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100.

About HCPC Europe

HCPC Europe is a not for profit organisation under the provision of the Belgian Law, registered in Brussels. The mission of HCPC Europe is to educate the healthcare sector about packaging that improves patients’ lives, for example by enhancing compliance and adherence to medication regimes. We believe that the packaging of medicines can in itself play a significant part in therapy adherence and we want to promote packaging-related initiatives which will help improve therapy adherence by patients.

About Adelphe

Adelphe’s aim is reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste in France. As a non-profit organization, under French government approval, Adelphe is a subsidiary of Citeo. Adelphe provides support to everyone involved in the recycling industry in order to help packaging producers create eco-friendly designs that are easy to recycle for the consumer. More than 9,000 companies are affiliated with Adelphe and invest around 60 million euros in order to make the economy more circular.