The 7th edition of the PharmaPack congress/exhibition was held on the 6^th and 7^th February 2008 at the Cité des Sciences et de l'industrie, in Paris. 2024 participants attended it from 49 countries. The exhibition gathered the leading suppliers of materials, technologies and services, manufacturers, and packaging and medical device manufacturers. At the opening session, Prof. Jean-Claude Chaumeil, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université René Descartes Paris V, France, introduced the programme for the two days and the main theme of this 2008 edition on the specific constraints linked to cancer treatment. The lectures took stock of the following main points: regulatory framework, production, packaging, compliance, reconstitution, administration, patient and health worker safety, respect for the environment.

PharmaPack Awards
After recalling the principles for awarding the PharmaPack prizes and thanking the jury, Prof. Philippe Arnaud, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris V René Descartes, Pharmacist, Hôpital Bichat, AFSSAPS expert, pointed out: "As for the awards at previous editions, the jury members, who are independent, have singled out packaging/drug duos placed on the French market between the 1st January and the 31st December 2007, taking all the categories into account and, in particular, medical devices which are real driving forces behind innovation in the pharmaceutical sector."

The PharmaPack 'Compliance' award went to BurgoPak for the Pocketpak. This packaging stands out because of its design that aims to improve compliance. It uses a patented system that makes it possible to slide one or two blisters out of the pack, while displaying the insert. This packaging also comprises anti-counterfeit and child-resistant functions.

The PharmaPack 'Safety' award went to Onko-safe developed by Ebewe Pharma. This medical device is a biodegradable polypropylene overwrap with a twist top that makes it possible to use and handle the products safely during transport, receipt and unpacking, the preparation of cytotoxics and the elimination of the packaging after use.

The PharmaPack 'Medical Device' award went to Recell by C3 Clinical Cell Culture. This is a device for harvesting and seeding skin cells intra-operatively to treat burns, scars and pigment disorders. It is designed as a home pocket laboratory for cell therapy; as it is extremely easy to use, it guarantees sterility while being particularly compact.

The 8th edition of PharmaPack will be held on the 21st & 22nd January 2009, Paris, Grande Halle de la Villette.

Further Information
www.Pharmapack.com.fr