Berry Global, a provider of packaging and engineered products, and Pylote, an industrial mineral chemistry company, have struck a strategic commercial partnership to address the need for innovative antimicrobial packaging solutions that are more sustainable, cleaner, and safer for patients and consumers.

Following successful joint evaluations, Berry Global and Pylote are launching a first-to-market offering with a multidose ophthalmic dropper combining high barrier with antimicrobial protection properties. This combines Pylote’s mineral innovation that helps protect patients/users from the risk of microbial infections with Berry Global’s expertise in design of sustainable healthcare packaging.

Thanks to the mineral antimicrobial technology of Pylote, this new multidose ophthalmic dropper is proven effective against Adenovirus type 3 Virus (conjunctivitis), Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

This product offers the market with competitive advantages in terms of patients’ protection, time-to-market, and sustainability, while offering:

• Proven and certified mineral antimicrobial protection of dropper tip where over 85% of the contamination of the drops is found according to a clinical study
• Allows patients to have hygienic applications for every use with a multidose dropper
• Reduces plastic waste by 16 times for one month treatment compared to monodose solutions
• No change in patient treatment methods
• Fully compliant, stable, and biocompatible while certified non-irritant and non-cytotoxic technology (ISO10993:2010).
• No modifications required to packaging design or existing manufacturing/filling processes.

Mandy McCain, head of Berry Global Healthcare Division, said: “This new partnership is incredibly exciting for us in the world of ophthalmics to further protect patients, provide them comfort while dispensing the drug and supporting further adherence to their treatments. This disruptive antimicrobial technology from Pylote combined with our market leading ophthalmic packaging design is a first-to-market for multidose droppers with added sustainability benefits and is one significant example of our customer promise – Innovation for the World. Solutions for You. We believe that this collaboration is an important first step in delivering the future innovation for ophthalmic patients and their healthcare providers.”

Loïc Marchin, CEO of Pylote, added: "Partnering with Berry Global is a major step in our strategy to protect people with a shared sustainable commitment. Berry Global offers a rich portfolio of healthcare devices for many applications. Our mineral technology, positively perceived by consumers, is an effective, robust, and safe disruptive antimicrobial solution. I see tremendous value for existing and potential patients from our combined offerings in the combination of our two expertises. We are now able to provide fully operational, responsible and safe solutions with an immediate impact on patient safety and comfort."