Bilcare Limited and USA based MeadWestvaco Corp. (MMV) announced the joint acquisition of pharmaceutical packaging company International Labs of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The joint acquisition will leverage best-in-class capabilities for adherence-promoting pharmaceutical packaging and streamline the supply chain by eliminating several steps in the distribution channel, according to a Bilcare announcement.
The acquisition, completed on July 18, 2008, will help to make adherence packaging more widely available to consumers throughout the global marketplace, especially through growing low-cost generic and branded drug programmes, added the company officials. However, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The partnership combines MWV's capabilities in healthcare packaging design and innovation, including compliance and injection moulded packaging; Bilcare's research and expertise in materials, products, processes and services which enable the safe and effective integration of pharmaceuticals and packaging; and International Labs' contract packaging services for retail pharmacies, and large generic and branded drug manufacturers.
"The combination of our turnkey capabilities has helped enable the creation of new, highly efficient, consumer-oriented supply chains that are changing the economics of global healthcare and improving patient outcomes," said Bruce Thomas, senior vice president, Global Market Strategy for MWV. "This acquisition is one component of our healthcare strategy in product innovation, capacity expansion, and other growth investments. We are continuing to work with retailers, including Wal-Mart, and generic and branded pharmaceutical companies to continue to bring our innovative healthcare compliance solutions to serve the fast-growing needs of the global healthcare market."
"We are excited about the acquisition of International Labs; our partnership with MWV will allow us to combine our global experience, primary and secondary packaging expertise, and R&D capabilities to bring compliance packaging solutions to customers throughout the world," said Mohan Bhandari, chairman and managing director of Bilcare.
"Bilcare is intently focused on developing technologies that improve patient health outcomes," continued Bhandari. "For example, the recent unveiling of Bilcare's nanotechnology-based secure fingerprint is a major step toward securing the pharmaceutical product supply chain in its entirety from the manufacturer to the patient. This highly advanced technology not only has the ability to secure e-pedigree needs, via a safe authentication system but also provide a wide range of business solutions."
International Labs is using the MWV compliance packaging solution Shellpak for generic and branded drug programmes. Shellpak is a pre-filled medication package that can be immediately distributed to consumers, alleviating the need for pharmacists to count pills. The package's unique and efficient design integrates a foil-backed blister pack with a labelled, injection moulded plastic shell, and eliminates the need for unnecessary transport packaging. The solution's expert design is proven to enhance patient outcomes by motivating and reminding patients to take medication as prescribed.
Shellpak's additional unique features that promote patience adherence and safety include: blisters imprinted with dosing dates and times, re-enforcing the prescribed regimen; instructional labels attached to the package to ensure dosing information is available until the medication is completely consumed; child safe and senior friendly packaging and drug dispensing system; availability of billboard space on the package offers pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to promote their drug brand and critical information, strengthening the visibility of the package on the shelf.
MeadWestvaco Corporation provides packaging solutions to many of the world's most-admired brands in the healthcare, personal and beauty care, food, beverage, media and entertainment, and home and garden industries. The company's businesses include consumer & office products, specialty chemicals, and the community development and land management group, which sustainably manage the company's land holdings to support its operations, and to provide for conservation, recreation and development opportunities.
Bilcare currently provides solutions to address many of the pharma industry's key concerns including counterfeit drugs, compliance, costs, communication and convenience.