News

Indian pharmaceutical packaging supplier Bilcare and US-based MWV, formerly MeadWestvaco, have acquired contract pack firm International Labs in Florida for an undisclosed sum.

Bilcare said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange that the deal would help to make adherence packaging more widely available to consumers worldwide, particularly for generic and branded pharmaceuticals.

The partnership combines MWV's expertise in healthcare packaging design, including compliance and injection-moulded packaging, with Bilcare's research and capabilities in materials, products, processes and services.

Bilcare chairman and managing director Mohan Bhandari said partnering MWV would allow the firm to combine its "global experience, primary and secondary packaging expertise, and research and development capabilities to serve customers and consumers throughout the world".

International Labs is using MWV's Shellpak unit-dose packaging for generic and branded drugs.

Shellpak is a pre-filled medicine pack which integrates a foil-backed blister pack with a labelled, injection-moulded plastic shell that means pharmacists do not need to spend time counting pills.

The blisters are printed with dosing dates and times and patient information leaflets attached to the package ensure that dosing information is available until the medication has all been taken.

The push-button Shellpak is also child safe and senior friendly.

Richmond, Virginia-based packaging and paper firm MWV said the acquisition was one component of its healthcare strategy in "product innovation, capacity expansion, and other growth investments".