The event, which was founded in 2005, recognises achievement in the contract research, development and manufacturing sector, covering topics ranging from supply chain logistics and integrity to tablet packaging and manufacture.
Bilcare’s packaging
Heading up the list of recipients was India’s Bilcare, which won the “Best New Product” category for its Patina and Ultra range of packaging solutions. Company board member Volker Huelck said that the products are ”the successful outcome of an integrated research effort of pharma and material scientists with an in-depth insight of the end use requirement.
“Today it has become the most popular base level anti-counterfeit solution and is being successfully used by many leading pharma brands in India and other countries for not only brand authentication but also for brand positioning. This award is an apt recognition of Bilcare’s focused endeavour to provide continual innovative solutions to address the key concerns of the pharma sector,” concluded Dr Huelck.
Patheon wins technology transfer category
Canadian contracting giant Patheon, and partner Procter and Gamble (P&G) Pharmaceuticals, received the “most effective technology transfer” gong for their Project Iris collaboration.
Terry Novak, Patheon’s president of North American operations, said that the firm was “proud to have won the Most Effective Scale-Up and Technical Transfer.” He added that it recognizes Patheon’s dedication to “understanding our customer needs.”
P&G’s director of external supply organization, Phill Slater, agreed, explained that: “Patheon was selected as our partner in this project based on their experience, capabilities in technology and quality management.”
Pierre Fabre's vial plant
French contract drugmaker Pierre Fabre received the “Most Improved Facility” award for a plant run by its subsidiary Aquitaine Pharm International. The 1,000 square metre unit, which was set up in 2007 with an investment of €30m ($41m) manufactures drug vials from 1ml to 80ml.
Other prize winners included: Catalent Pharma Solutions’ Sular tablet printing operations, which scooped this year’s “Best contract manufacturing project” trophy; AstraZeneca and NYK Logistics, which received the supply chain award for their “perfect pharmaceutical delivery partnership; and Burgopak and Brecon Pharmaceuticals, which were awarded the most innovative partnership trophy.