The Pune based leading pharma packaging solution company Bilcare Ltd has secured polymer packaging patent for its metallized packaging films (patent no 197823). The controller of patents pronounced its decision of dismissing the two oppositions namely, Associated Capsules Groups and Amartara Pvt Ltd against Bilcare's metallized packaging films and upheld the validity of the said patent.
Bilcare had filed its patent application for its invention of metallized packaging films on March 03. 2004. The controller of patents granted the Patent No 197823 by sealing the patent on 29 December 2005. The invention related to a multi layer thermoformable, translucent PVC film with metallization to provide distinctive features for identity as well as effective anti-counterfeit solution. This novel film became an immensely valuable packaging material for the packaging of pharmaceutical products. The Indian pharmaceutical industry realized and appreciated the novelty and began using this film for packaging their products.
Speaking to Pharmabiz, Dr Praful Naik, chief scientific officer, Bilcare Ltd, said, "This judgment vindicates Bilcare's invention and upholds the validity of the patent granted for this invention. The invention was upheld based on sound technical justifications and the decision comes as a great boost to the pharmaceutical industry".
The judgment was pronounced after multiple hearings from Mumbai Patent office and the Assistant Controller of Patents stated "In view of my findings as above after careful consideration of statements, evidences and arguments at the hearing, the opposition is dismissed and the opponent shall pay to the applicant (the patentee) the costs as annexed herein". "The costs to be paid to the patentee by the opponents (Rs. 30, 000 in one case and Rs 29,500 in another) included costs for irrelevant citations and documents".
Shelcai (a calcium supplement manufactured by Elder Pharmaceuticals) became the first product in the world to use this novel packaging material. The metallized film created a distinctive identity for several widely used medicines.
Recently, it has launched nanotechnology based spurious detection scanner in the domestic market. Commenting on the development on that, Naik said, "Several Pharma companies have approached us, and we are in the finalisation stage for the marketing of spurious drug detection scanner. In the next 2-3 months time it will be available in the market".
The company has four manufacturing facility at India, Singapore, US and Europe. To cater in a big way to its customer, it is continuously investing big amount for the capacity expansion. With the growth rate of 35 per cent, it has achieved Rs 450 crore annual turnover in the last fiscal and similarly expecting for the current year.
Bilcare continues focus on innovations through research. It will enlarge the company's portfolio of novel packaging materials with several new inventions to provide a range of anti- counterfeit and product identity solutions coupled with solutions addressing challenges of the pharmaceutical industry. it has over 55 patents applications worldwide and continues to not only develop novel products, processes and technologies in-house but also acquire them to enhance its offerings to the global pharmaceutical sector.
While talking about inorganic growth, Nail, Said, "We are in talks with various companies in domestic as well as in the international market but nothing have been concrete".