2025 Pharmapack Winners Showcase Innovations in Pharma Packaging and Drug Delivery

Editor's note: this story was originally published on BioPharmInternational.com.

The winners of the 2025 Pharmapack Awards were announced on Jan. 22, 2025, according to Pharmapack Europe. The awards, which have been newly reformatted, recognize excellence in six key categories. In addition, this year’s awards used a new approach in which both commercialized products and groundbreaking innovations expected to shape pharma packaging's future were celebrated. For the first time, these awards were open to all participants in an effort to foster greater inclusivity and innovation, according to a press release (1).

The winners included many significant advancements, such as an autoinjector that eliminates the need for manual needle attachment, a fully recyclable and heat-sealable ultra-high barrier paper, and a multi-layered vial that is designed for storing gene therapy product. Other innovations included a prefilled syringe pack that reduces packaging waste by 62% and a non-electronic, eco-friendly label that can monitor both time and temperature. This year also saw the first “Women of the Year” commendations presented.

In the Delivery and Device Innovation category, the winner was Switzerland-based SHL Medical’s Elexy, a reusable electromechanical autoinjector, which was developed from years of innovative research. This autoinjector is drug-agnostic and has the widest range of primary container flexibility among autoinjectors, which means the device can caters to both prefilled syringe- and cartridge-based primary containers. The cartridge-based version of the autoinjector features SHL’s proprietary Needle Isolation Technology (NIT), which comprises a pre-installed needle housed within the cap of the autoinjector. This design eliminates the need for manual attachment of the needle and offers patients a more convenient device.

The winner of the Eco-Design category was Finland-based Huhtamaki’s fully recyclable, heat sealable, ultra-high barrier Omnilock Ultra Paper. This ultra paper is specially engineered to replace non-recyclable multi-layer laminates, including laminates made of paper, plastic, and aluminum. The product represents a significant innovation in sustainable packaging as it offers ultra-high barrier properties that were previously only found in non-recyclable multi-layer combinations of aluminum foil and plastic. Omnilock has a paper content ranging from 87–93% and is derived from FSC-certified fibers. The product maintains superior barrier performance while at the same time being environmentally friendly.

In the Packaging Innovation category, Japan-based Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) won for its new vial, the OXYCAPT Multilayer Plastic Vial, which is designed to store gene therapy products using dry ice and liquid nitrogen. Standard cyclic olefin polymer (COP) vials have a poor gas-barrier (2), making COP vials inadequate for drugs that are sensitive to oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide. (CO2), according to the Pharmapack press release (1). The OXYCAPT consists of three layers: the drug contact layer, the outer layer (both made of COP), and the O2 and CO2 barrier layer, which is made an MGC novel polyester. OXYCAPT therefore provides an excellent O2, CO2, and ultraviolet (UV) barrier that is 20 times better than standard COP monolayer vials.

The Patient-Centric Design category winner was Belgium-based UCB Pharma’s redesigned BIMZELX 160mg autoinjector packaging, which consists of innovative features and takes a patient-focused approach. The redesigned packaging incorporates 15 new design elements and enhances the patient’s unboxing experience by prioritizing ease of use, sustainability, and functionality. Key design highlights include a “book style” carton construction that displays instructions better, an intuitive reclosing mechanism, a tamper-evident design, and a plastic tray consisting of 50% recycled polyethylene terephthalate material.

The winner in the Start-Up Innovation category was Italy-based Active Label for its non-electronic, environmentally friendly labels designed to monitor both time and temperature. These smart labels are activated with near-monochromatic UV light. They use engineered materials developed through research in collaboration with universities and research centers. Information from these labels is read using a compact reader that utilizes optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and a proprietary algorithm that converts signals into time and temperature data. These data are stored in the cloud, which makes the data accessible remotely.

Pharmapack’s first inaugural Woman of the Year Award went to Asmita Khanolkar, senior director, Combination Products, Drug Delivery, Sterile Manufacturing, Device/Pharma Strategy and Commercialization, at US-based SMC Ltd. Khanolkar has more than two decades of experience, where she has managed and led various products from concept to commercial launch. Her product portfolio includes single-use, wearable and implantable devices, drug-device, device–biologic combination products for drug delivery, biotech, and biotherapeutics. The application of these products includes various indications such as diabetes, pain management, cell therapy, tissue regeneration, orthopedic, vascular, women’s health, oncology, surgical products, and more. She has made a significant contribution to advancing healthcare, having launched multiple medical devices and commissioning manufacturing lines for novel devices, including for first-in-human, single-use, on-body, and implantable cell therapy delivery devices.

“This year, we’ve seen a record number of award categories, yet the quality and innovation of entries continue to reach new heights. Notably, many submissions demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing sustainability through reduced raw material usage, improved recyclability, and lower carbon footprints, all while enhancing patient and user experiences,” said Tara Dougal, brand and content director—Pharma, at Informa, in the press release. “These efforts reflect the industry's determination to address critical challenges and shape the future of healthcare. We applaud the entire pharma packaging and drug delivery sector for its relentless drive toward innovation and transformative care standards.”

References

1. Pharmapack Europe. Pharmapack Award Winners 2025 Redefining Pharmaceutical Packaging and Drug Delivery. Press Release. Jan. 22, 2025.
2. Sarmadi, M.; Holmes, S.; Agha, R.; et al. A Comparative Study of Freeze-Drying Heat Transfer in Polymeric Vials and Glass Vials. Sci Rep 2023, 13, 18092. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40777-3