Packaging Leaders Bilcare and MWV Jointly Acquire International Labs, Inc. Companies Combine to Enhance and Expand Turnkey Integrated Drug Packaging for the Global Healthcare Market
RICHMOND, Va., Jul 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)– MeadWestvaco Corp. (NYSE:MWV) and India-based Bilcare Ltd. today announced the joint acquisition of pharmaceutical packaging company International Labs of St. Petersburg, Fla. 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, helping to make adherence packaging more widely available to consumers throughout the global marketplace, especially through growing low-cost generic and branded drug programs. The acquisition was completed on July 18, 2008. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The partnership combines MWV's capabilities in healthcare packaging design and innovation, including compliance and injection molded 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.” International Labs is using the MWV compliance packaging solution Shellpak® for generic and branded drug programs. 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 labeled, injection molded 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.
“As a leading resource for healthcare companies, Bilcare has unique visibility into the increasingly global healthcare market,” said Mohan Bhandari, chairman and managing director of Bilcare. “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 research and development capabilities to bring compliance packaging solutions to customers throughout the world.” “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 has ability to not only secure the e-pedigree needs via a safe authentication system but also provide a wide range of business solutions.” *Shellpak passed the Consumer Product Safety Commission child resistant and senior friendly pharmaceutical packaging protocols at F3D1, which is the highest level of child resistance attainable.
About MWV — MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE:MWV), 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 manages the company's land holdings to support its operations, and to provide for conservation, recreation and development opportunities. With 23,000 employees worldwide, MWV operates in 30 countries and serves customers in more than 100 nations. MWV manages all of its forestlands in accordance with internationally recognized forestcertification standards, and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the fourth consecutive year. For more information, please visit www.mwv.com.
About Bilcare — Bilcare is an international, integrated service provider to the global pharmaceutical industry offering one stop solution in pharma packaging research, global clinical trial supplies services, anti-counterfeit technology and an acclaimed research academy. Bilcare operates state-of-the-art manufacturing and research facilities in India, Singapore, US, UK and has regional offices in Brazil, Germany, China and Australia. Bilcare is committed to the 5 C's of the industry's key concerns viz. Counterfeit, Compliance, Costs, Communication and Convenience. For more information, please visit www.bilcare.com .
Bilcare Research undergoes major U.S. facility upgrade
October 1, 2007– Bilcare Research has announced that its pharmaceuticals packaging and research division is expanding to support the company’s growing U.S. customer base.
The company’s North American headquarters will add 13,000 square feet of space to its advanced slitting facility – allowing for increased warehousing of raw material and finished goods. In the second phase of expansion, the company will commission a state-of-the-art lab facility to provide research and testing services currently conducted in the company’s India and Singapore labs.
“This expansion will allow us to keep up with growing U.S. demand,” said Remco van Weeren, senior vice president of marketing and technology. “We’re especially excited to offer the U.S. market BilcareOptima™, which is the only research methodology of its kinds in this country.” Bilcare featured in the April 2008 issue of Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News
May 1, 2008– Bilcare Research Directors Hector Estevez (U.S. Innovative Solutions Division) and Maria Esther Barros (Mexico Innovative Solutions Division) are contributing writers in the April 2008 issue of PMPN's Viewpoint column.
The article, titled “Branding through Packaging”, is a concise look at counterfeiting, patient compliance, and how recent advances of packaging technologies address these issues. If you would like to read the full article, you can download a PDF version here.Bilcare Research undergoes major U.S. facility upgrade
October 1, 2007– Bilcare Research has announced that its pharmaceuticals packaging and research division is expanding to support the company’s growing U.S. customer base.
The company’s North American headquarters will add 13,000 square feet of space to its advanced slitting facility – allowing for increased warehousing of raw material and finished goods. In the second phase of expansion, the company will commission a state-of-the-art lab facility to provide research and testing services currently conducted in the company’s India and Singapore labs.
“This expansion will allow us to keep up with growing U.S. demand,” said Remco van Weeren, senior vice president of marketing and technology. “We’re especially excited to offer the U.S. market BilcareOptima™, which is the only research methodology of its kinds in this country.” Bilcare Research hosts DPPC meeting in Philadelphia
June 1, 2007– Bilcare Research has been selected to host the annual Drug and Pharmaceutical Packaging Committee (DPPC) meeting, which takes place June 10-12 in Philadelphia. Members of the DPPC gather several times a year to discuss innovations, problems and opportunities in the pharmaceutical packaging industry. Bilcare Research introduces Patina™
May 1, 2007– Bilcare Research has introduced Patina™, an innovative blister packaging that incorporates customizable vibrant colors and iridescence. This new offering officially launches the company into the consumer packaging category.
Patina™, which has already been well received in India, is the first blister packaging to incorporate such a high level of resilient color and shine. Bilcare Research, which holds the patent for this product, plans to work with consumer-focused companies to promote their products and capture the attention of customers in overcrowded categories.
“Patina™ offers marketers of consumer products the ability to differentiate their brands by using packaging that is both unique and engaging,” said Remco van Weeren, senior vice president of marketing and technology. “We have the ability to create specific colors to match specific brands – communicating a premium image to the consumer.” Bilcare Research introduces BilcareOptima™
May 1, 2007– Bilcare Research has introduced a unique tablet testing service called BilcareOptima™.
Traditional testing employs a costly trial and error process that can delay development cycles and tie up valuable analytical resources. BilcareOptima™ tests tablets outside of the packaging to establish sensitivities to environmental factors like light and moisture. With this data, researchers can determine the optimal packaging to meet a tablet’s required shelf life. The 30-40 day testing period is faster than traditional methods, which results in improved speed to market and reduced packaging costs.
“By taking the tablet out of the packaging, we are reducing the number of times it needs to be tested, saving our clients valuable lab time and analytical resources,” says Remco van Weeren, senior vice president of marketing and technology. “In addition, this new testing methodology provides better quantitative data because it determines not only if a tablet fails, but why it fails. This ultimately helps our researchers gain a better understanding of the stability of the formulation.”
