Bilcare Ltd, MeadWestVaco jointly acquire US pharmaceuticals packaging firm International Labs
21 Jul 2008
Pharmaceutical packaging firms Bangalore-based Bilcare Limited and the US-based MeadWestvaco Corp have announced the the joint acquisition of pharmaceutical packaging company International Labs, based in St Petersburg, Florida, for an undisclosed sum.
This joint acquisition enhances adherence-promoting pharmaceutical packaging and streamlines the supply chain by eliminating several steps in the distribution channel, helping to make adherence packaging more widely available to consumers throughout the global markets, especially through growing low-cost generic and branded drug programmes.
The partnership combines MeadWestvaco capabilities in healthcare packaging design and innovation, including compliance and injection moulded packaging and Bilcare's research and expertise in materials, products, processes and services, which enable the safe and effective integration of pharmaceuticals and packaging with International Labs' contract packaging services for retail pharmacies, and large generic and branded drug manufacturers.
International Labs uses the MeadWestVaco's compliance packaging, pre-filled Shellpak, for generic and branded drug programmes. Shellpak is a pre-filled medication package that can be immediately distributed to consumers, doing away with the need for pharmacists to count and dispense pills. The package's unique design integrates a foil-backed blister pack with a labeled, injection moulded plastic shell, and eliminates the need for unnecessary transport packaging.
Bilcare a leader in resource for healthcare will now allow them to serve customers and consumers better throughout the world.
In January 2008 Bilcare's Sinagapre subsidiary Bilcare Singapore had acquired Singapore-based Singular ID Industries, which provides anti-counterfeiting and brand security products and services on the nanotechnology platform.
Bilcare had paid $19.6 million for the technology start-up and holder of four global patents, which would augment its existing pharma packaging and solutions business.
This technology provides a low-cost fingerprinting and signatures to everyday products.
