In the ever-evolving landscape of pharmaceuticals, innovation has become a guiding force for companies toward a future where healthcare is not only effective but seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. Embracing an open innovation approach, Bormioli Pharma has embarked on a journey to transform today’s healthcare needs into tomorrow’s reality, forging partnerships with start-ups, research centers, universities, and clients.
Fostering innovation through collaboration
At the heart of this commitment lies the Bormioli Pharma Invents program.
This initiative, born from a commitment to open innovation, focuses on the co-development of cutting-edge packaging solutions with the pharmaceutical industry.
Over the years, Bormioli Pharma Invents has generated around 20 prototypes, sparking meaningful dialogue and interactions with clients and partners, ultimately bringing forth tangible innovations that address critical industry trends, reflecting the company’s dedication to shaping the future of healthcare.
Partnerships and innovation through crowdsourcing
The company’s dedication to collaborative innovation extends beyond its internal ecosystem, encompassing partnerships with Innovation Hubs and accelerators. Through collaboration with the open innovation platform Desall.com, Bormioli Pharma has engaged with the international innovation community, receiving an overwhelming response with more than 240 projects submitted in the last three years.
Addressing healthcare megatrends with IoT and biometric technologies
The pharmaceutical industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution, with the Internet of Things (IoT) set to transform patient care and medication management. Bormioli Pharma Invents recognizes this megatrend and has proactively embraced IoT, biometric technologies, and connectivity to create groundbreaking solutions.
The IoT market in healthcare is projected to reach $187.60 billion by 2028, and Bormioli Pharma is strategically positioned to contribute to this growth. The company envisions a future where connected devices enhance patient care and pharmaceutical packaging simultaneously.
As a result, Bormioli Pharma Invents has developed and launched different prototypes in the past year, including eTune, MediClicker, OptiMist, ID-Cap and Trax.
eTune – Empowering users through connected packaging
Digitalization in healthcare is a top priority, and Bormioli Pharma has responded with eTune, a connected packaging solution designed to empower users to take control of their health. The eTune cap, an innovative add-on that can be applied to already-existing dual-chamber products, ensures that drugs are correctly reconstituted.
Equipped with a smart sensor, the cap communicates with a dedicated app, providing real-time feedback through an LED light. This user-friendly solution not only ensures proper drug administration but also enhances the overall healthcare experience.
ID-Cap – Biometric technology revolutionizing safety
Recognizing the paramount importance of drug administration safety, particularly for vulnerable groups, Bormioli Pharma introduces ID-Cap. This child-resistant closure incorporates biometric technology, reading fingerprints for secure access.
By addressing the limitations of traditional child-proof systems, ID-Cap is setting new standards for the industry. This product concept, the result of a call4ideas launched in collaboration with the Italian company Desall.com1, envisages a capsule with integrated biometric recognition which, by reading the fingerprint and a simple rotation of the cap, allows the patient to easily open the medicine. Biometric recognition can also take place via smartphones.
The item is in fact designed both to be used independently and to be connected to a dedicated app, which also enables effective monitoring of treatment.
ID-Cap provides an advanced alternative to traditional CRC systems, while elevating pharmaceutical administration safety to unprecedented levels.
- The winners of the contest, with their “Turn-It” project are Micaela Alvarado Eslava, Irvin Tolentino, and Cèsar Augusto Lòpez Torres Chicoma, a team of industrial designers based in Lima.
OptiMist – IoT nebulization for ophthalmic medicines
Ophthalmic medicines pose unique challenges in administration, especially for individuals with disabilities or the elderly.
Bormioli Pharma addresses this with OptiMist, a connected device able to administer ophthalmic therapies through nebulization. By applying IoT technology, OptiMist not only reduces medical waste but also provides a user-friendly and controllable smart device for enhanced therapy management.
During the design process, particular attention was paid to its ergonomics: the soft applicator that the patient has to put around the eye makes this nebulizer really comfortable to use.
The drug efficacy is improved through an e-controlled dosage and, thanks to the smart notifications that appear on the nebulizer, therapy management is simplified.
MediClicker – Enhancing therapy adherence through connectivity
In the era of digital healthcare, therapy adherence is a critical concern. Bormioli Pharma tackles this challenge with MediClicker, a smart-controlled pill-dispensing system.
Incorporating IoT functionalities, MediClicker ensures accurate dosing and adherence through a seamlessly connected ecosystem. By providing real-time information and notifications, this innovative solution empowers patients to effectively manage their treatment.
TRAX – Countering counterfeiting with technological precision
Anticounterfeiting is one of the hottest topics in the industry. According to the WHO, over 1 on 2 medicines sold on-line could be fake, while for Europol up to 30% of the drugs sold in developing countries are counterfeited.
In Europe, the annual cost for counterfeit drugs in pharma is estimated in 10.2 billion euros. The specter of counterfeit drugs looms large in the pharmaceutical industry, necessitating robust traceability solutions. Bormioli Pharma addresses this concern with TRAX, a technologically advanced tracking solution that ensures the authenticity of pharmaceuticals. This non-editable, non-counterfeitable system integrates with blockchain technology, offering a multi-level code for comprehensive traceability. TRAX exemplifies Bormioli Pharma’s commitment to ensuring patient safety and preserving therapy efficiency.
In conclusion, Bormioli Pharma Invents stands as a beacon of innovation in the pharmaceutical packaging industry. Through an open innovation approach, strategic partnerships, and a keen focus on emerging healthcare megatrends, the company continues to shape the future of pharmaceuticals, one innovative packaging solution at a time. The groundbreaking prototypes from the Bormioli Pharma Invents program underscore the company’s commitment to addressing industry challenges head-on, with a vision for a connected and patient-centric healthcare future.
