On track at Pharmapack 2024 - The Track Sponsor interview: Gerresheimer

January 2024 brings both a new year and Europe’s leading packaging and drug delivery event. Gathering the world’s experts in pharmaceutical packaging together in Paris, France, Pharmapack 2024 offers exciting opportunities to learn and collaborate.

Could you please give an overview of Gerresheimer and your key priorities as an organisation? 

We are an innovative system and solution provider, and a global partner for the pharma, biotech, and cosmetic industries. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of pharmaceutical containment solutions, drug delivery systems and medical devices, as well as solutions for the health industry. The product range includes digital solutions for therapy support, medication pumps, syringes, pens, auto-injectors, and inhalers as well as vials, ampoules, tablet containers, infusions, droppers, syrup bottles, and more. We ensure the safe delivery and reliable administration of drugs to the patient. With 36 production sites in 16 countries across Europe, America, and Asia, we have a global presence and produce locally for regional markets. With over 11,000 employees, we generated revenues of around €1.82bn in 2022. 

For this edition of Pharmapack, what are some of the most exciting drug delivery and pharmaceutical packaging innovations the industry is witnessing right now? 

The more complex medicines and their administrations become, the higher the demand for the pharma, biotech, and for customer-specific system solutions and platforms. Following a long-established trend in other industries, such as the automotive sector, many businesses are looking to work with partners that can offer complete system solutions and platforms and cover a much larger section of the value chain (through outsourcing, for instance) rather than with companies that only focus on a specific product. These solutions and platforms may include a combination of 

primary packaging components that have traditionally been produced from different manufacturers. But they can also be complex, increasingly connected drug delivery devices that encompass all the necessary components, where the supplier acts as a system integrator – developing manufacturing, delivering complete solutions, and even preparing the associated digital platforms. We will present syringes for ophthalmic applications and our new performance class levels. In two Learning Lab sessions, we present more background knowledge on current topics: 

• Gerresheimer's Product Platforms: designated quality levels to secure best in class performance in multiple application fields and demanding disease areas 
  Speaker: Stefan Verheyden Global Vice President Biological Solutions and Syringes & Holger Krenz Global Vice President Business Development High Value Products Tubular Glass 
  24, January, 15.50-16. 20 h, Show floor, Stand L20 

• Prefilled ophthalmic syringes - New possibilities in terminal sterilization 
  Joint Session with Sterigenics 
  Bernd Zeiss, Head of Scientific Affairs and Application Technologies 
  Von Sterigenics Eric Offermann, Principal Scientist Research & Development 
  25, January 10:10 -10:40 

What indications are currently witnessing a boom in drug delivery innovation? 

New active agents regularly place new demands on packaging. Many of the new biotech drugs and biosimilars that are administered parenterally to treat cancer and other illnesses require innovative primary packaging solutions for drugs and drug delivery systems. As a solution provider with a unique and dedicated product portfolio, we are continuously exploring options to better accommodate our customers along the drug development and drug LCM journey. 

For example, our wearable on-body infusers are designed to enable small or large volume subcutaneous delivery of modern pharmaceutical and biotechnological products for self-administration by patients. EZ-fill Smart, our new and innovative ready-to-fill vial platform, is designed to improve drug packaging quality, reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and to shorten lead times for customers. It brings new advancements that drive appreciable improvements for customers amid growing demand for ready-to-fill and ready-to-use vials. 

What challenges are facing the pharmaceutical packaging sector when innovating new modes of packaging and transportation? 

All healthcare systems are under constant cost pressure, including for medicinal drugs. At the same time, expectations for the effectiveness and reliability of medical drugs (drugs compliance) are also increasing. By developing intelligent solutions, pharmaceutical primary packaging and drug delivery systems help raise drug compliance, improve treatment, and contribute to more targeted use of medicines – making a significant contribution to cost-cutting in the process. 

Healthcare Authorities – especially the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – continue to impose ever more exacting standards, both in relation to active agents and regarding primary packaging for drugs and drug delivery systems. 

The most diverse aspects of sustainability play a role in the development of packaging and transportation methods today. This starts with energy consumption in production, but also includes the sustainable development or improvement of products according to Ecodesign principles and the recycling of various raw materials through a circular economy. 

Gerresheimer is sponsoring this year’s Device and Packaging Innovation track. Why is this track important and what does Gerresheimer hope to bring to Pharmapack 2024 with this track? 

Opportunities and Challenges in Connected Drug Delivery 

Join us for an insightful discussion on 'Opportunities and Challenges in Connected Drug Delivery' The talk explores the current integration of digital health in drug delivery and the numerous opportunities that it presents. Delving into the landscape of drug delivery, we examine the rise of connected devices, emphasising the delicate balance between technology and compassionate care. This session also addresses real-world challenges like adoption, satisfaction, regulatory, and security considerations. Be part of the conversation on overcoming these challenges. 

Mithun Ratnakumar, Director Technology Strategy & Governance 

24, January, 11.30 - 11.40 h, Conference Theatre, Room 721 

Overcoming challenges when developing subcutaneous drug delivery devices that empower patient self-administration 

The trend in parenteral patient therapy has been moving towards the homecare setting for some time as it empowers patient independence. However, home administration brings additional requirements when developing a delivery device, and these are constantly evolving. Patient safety is always paramount, but useability is another critical factor, as well as sustainability and connectivity to support patient adherence. The challenge is to design a device to meet as many requirements as possible that can be on the market within 4-8 years. In this presentation we will discuss Gerresheimer’s mission of “innovating for a better life” and how we apply this when developing solutions that respond to the needs of patients, our pharmaceutical industry customers, and the environment, today and into the future. 

Oliver Haferbeck, Global Senior Vice President Innovation AT and CEO Sensile Medical AG 

24, January, 11.55 - 12.20 h, Conference Theatre, Room 721 

How do events like Pharmapack help to accelerate these track fields in the wider pharmaceutical industry? 

Pharmapack is an important trade fair. We have been exhibiting here for more than 2 decades and every year we have important meetings with new and existing customers who want to get to know our innovative solutions. Pharmapack accelerates communication because it brings together the entire knowledge of an industry. 

There's still time to register for Pharmapack 2024! Click here to find out more.