Recent Trends in Pharmaceutical Packaging Technology

Introduction to Pharmaceutical Packaging Technology

Pharmaceutical packaging technology encompasses the design, development, and production of packaging materials and systems for pharmaceutical products. The primary goals of pharmaceutical packaging are to protect the product from contamination, degradation, and tampering, while also providing accurate dosing and administration to patients.

Recent Trends in Pharmaceutical Packaging

1. Smart Packaging

Smart packaging technologies, such as RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tags, QR codes, and NFC (Near Field Communication) chips, are being increasingly utilized in pharmaceutical packaging. These technologies enable real-time tracking and monitoring of products throughout the supply chain, ensuring traceability and authenticity while enhancing patient safety.

2. Tamper-Evident Packaging

With growing concerns about product tampering and counterfeiting, pharmaceutical companies are investing in tamper-evident packaging solutions. These include features such as shrink bands, holographic seals, and breakable caps that indicate if a product has been tampered with, providing consumers with peace of mind and ensuring product integrity.

3. Child-Resistant Packaging

Child-resistant packaging is designed to prevent accidental ingestion of medications by children. Recent innovations in child-resistant packaging technology include push-and-twist caps, blister packs with child-resistant lidding, and resealable pouches with child-resistant closures, making it easier for caregivers to store and administer medications safely.

4. Sustainable Packaging

As environmental concerns continue to rise, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly adopting sustainable packaging solutions to minimize their environmental footprint. This includes using recyclable and biodegradable materials, reducing packaging waste, and optimizing packaging design to minimize resource consumption and carbon emissions.

5. Intelligent Packaging

Intelligent packaging systems incorporate sensors and indicators that provide real-time information about the condition of the product, such as temperature, humidity, and exposure to light. These systems help ensure product quality and stability during storage and transportation, reducing the risk of product degradation and spoilage.

6. Personalized Packaging

With the rise of personalized medicine, there is a growing demand for customized packaging solutions tailored to individual patient needs. This includes packaging formats that facilitate accurate dosing and administration, such as unit-dose blister packs and pre-filled syringes, as well as customizable labeling and packaging designs.

• The Pharmaceutical industry is the perfect place for the packaging industry to show off some of its advanced technology.

Need For Advancement

• Pharmaceuticals need reliable and speedy packaging solutions that deliver a combination of product protection, quality, tamper evidence, patient comfort and security needs.

• There is an increasing need to provide customized, individual packaging solutions, which assures the effectiveness of medicines.

• To incorporate precise filling mechanisms, as the wrong dosage of a medicine could be life threatening.

CuePath Medication Monitoring System

• CuePath improves the medication adherence of adults with chronic conditions by monitoring adherence and providing timely outreach to resolve the underlying causes of non-adherence.

• The smart packaging involves the use of Cuepath smart stickers and Cuepath clip attached on to the blister package.

• Cuepath stickers consists of patient medication regimen info and Cuepath clip is an electronic device used as reminder.

Blow-Fill-Seal technology

• Blow-fill-seal (BFS) technology is the process by which plastic containers are formed, filled with sterile filtered product and sealed in an uninterrupted sequence of operations within the controlled sterile environment of a single machine.

• The blow-fill-seal process is a robust, advanced aseptic processing technology, recognized by worldwide regulatory authorities for its inherent operational advantages over conventional aseptic production.

Shellpack

• Shellpak features 30 days of treatment in a calendarized unit-dose blister format. To facilitate compliance with the medication regimen, Tablets are laid out with color coded days and weeks. The pack also includes reminders for refilling the prescription.

• The Diovan HCT® Shellpak™ is offered in four strength combinations. Each strength combination features a distinctive color (Brown, Blue, Purple, Red) and photograph of the unique tablet design for each strength to ensure correct dosing for the patient.

Prefilled Syringes

• A prefilled syringe is a single-dose packet of vaccine to which a needle has been fixed by the manufacturer.

• Parental packaging innovations and applications have made devices easier to use for both the healthcare professional and the patient.

Ecoslide -RX sustainable compliance packaging

• In August 2011, Keystone Folding Box Company and Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging launched their Ecoslide -RX sustainable compliance packaging.

• The pack is made from 100% recycled material, using unbleached paperboard and a clay-coated surface designed to house blister packaging with a minimum of unsustainable film and foil .The slide package meets all the modern expectations for child-resistance and accessibility for seniors, but doesn’t require heat sealing in the manufacturing process, reducing both costs and energy usage .

Stora Enso – Pharma DDSi Wireless System

• This technology is based on conductive ink on a carton board-based blister inlay, which is connected to a cellular module embedded in the package.

• The removal of pills is tracked and the information can be sent to an electronic database automatically via GSM or GPRS cellular networks.

• A Doctor can simply use the packaging data to track a patient’s medication intake.

• The system can also issue phone calls and text messages to the patient, healthcare professionals and even relatives.

Diskus Inhaler Technique

• A DISKUS® is a dry-powder inhaler that holds 60 doses. It features a built-in counter, so that you always know how many doses you have left in it. It’s the first dry powder inhaler that simplifies asthma care by combining an inhaled corticosteroid with a long- acting bronchodilator in one device.

Near Field Communication (NFC) Tags

• NFC stands for Near Field Communication. NFC is a set of standards that allow smartphones and other devices to communicate via radio signals when they are held nearby. NFC works similarly to RFID and has a range of about 4 inches, making it harder to eavesdrop on.

• NFC tags are added to any pharmaceutical packaging so a consumer could touch the code on the packaging with their NFC-enabled mobile phone to download text, audio or web page product information, which can be played back on his handset. Provided spoken dosage instructions from pharmacy staff, to aid a visually impaired or blind person.