Pharmapack Europe 2025, which was held on January 22 and 23 in Paris, selected six startups to receive the «Heart of Pharma» (heart of the pharmaceutical industry)e, a special distinction awarded to these early-stage companies that drive new technologies. Six regional start-ups were selected: two from the United States and one each from Ireland, the United Kingdom, France and the DACH region.
Startups that have become the “heart of the pharmaceutical industry” are:
United States
Dr. Ferrer BioPharma ClorNovir specializes in developing innovative medicines for respiratory conditions such as cough, cold, flu, and allergies. It uses advanced nanoparticle technology to create high-quality, evidence-based products that are consumer-focused and created by physicians. Its expertise extends from optimizing drug delivery systems to improving patient comfort and compliance. ClorNovir, its nasal spray with “GentleMist technology,” won the 2024 Pharmapack Award for its patient-centered design. Formulated to prevent burning or discomfort, ClorNovir provides fast, effective relief from allergy and rhinitis symptoms.
Windgap Medical introduces its Large Volume Dual Chamber (LVDC) platform, designed to improve self-administration and at-home injection of complex injectables. The LVDC platform features a side-by-side dual cartridge configuration with a patented mixing and delivery needle hub, which streamlines complex preparation steps and enables simple delivery of lyophilized drugs, long-acting injectables, and sequential delivery of co-administered therapies. By combining precision, human factors, and innovative design, the platform addresses key challenges in drug stability, ease of use, and sustainability, making it ideal for diverse therapeutic applications.
United Kingdom
Eco-inject has created a pioneering, more sustainable, two-step, single-use auto-injector platform for 1 mL and 2,25 mL pre-filled syringes (PFS) in a single device configuration. It is a step-change in auto-injector technology, based on a “first principles” design approach, which strives for sustainability and elegance, while reducing product cost. Energy and cost savings are achieved through fewer components, simplified sub-assemblies, and final product assembly with PFS. Most importantly, the Eco-Inject platform reduces plastic waste and is made from 100% bio-based polymers.
Ireland
Pharma Latch introduced Pharma Latch Hollow (PLH), a single-use device that connects to standard syringes and innovates intradermal drug delivery. By gently stretching the skin instead of compressing it, PLH ensures consistent needle depth and complete dose delivery into the dermal layer, thereby addressing long-standing challenges of ID techniques. PLH also expands ID delivery possibilities by supporting higher viscosity formulations (up to 60 cP) and larger volumes (up to 3 mL), while avoiding issues such as reflux or spillage. This advancement aligns with a growing interest in precision medicine and advanced drug delivery solutions.
France
BeFCBeFC, a spin-off company from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), was chosen for its development of sustainable next-generation microelectronics powered by biofuels. This innovation has transformative potential for the global pharmaceutical industry, enabling the power supply of small disposable devices (such as smart catheters) and real-time monitoring of the transport conditions of sensitive pharmaceuticals, including vaccines and other temperature-sensitive biological products. This approach enables real-time monitoring of temperature, shock impact and geolocation during the transport of sensitive pharmaceuticals. However, unlike traditional methods that rely on expensive and environmentally damaging lithium batteries, which also require specialized recycling, BeFC’s solution uses an eco-friendly biofuel cell and biodegradable circuit board, allowing safe disposal even in landfills.
DACH region: Germany, Austria and Switzerland
InnoMedica is a biotechnology company currently developing two clinical-stage products and was driven to innovate after facing challenges in accessing suitable CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) filling services. In response, the company developed a completely new system to fill sterile, closed vials with nanoparticles in a single step.
At the heart of the innovation is a specially designed needle that pierces the septum of the vial without compromising its integrity. This eliminates the need for laser sealing or additional steps normally required in the process. By streamlining the traditional method (eliminating the need to open, fill and reseal vials), the technology improves speed, safety and cost-effectiveness. The insertion process is carried out by two robots, one semi-automated and one fully automated, which process the vials without interruption.
