Packaging Innovation Trends and Solutions

Not much changes very often, or very quickly, in the world of  pharma packaging innovations  for clinical trials—but there are a few trends.

Protecting ‘The Blind,’ Maintaining Consistency

Although pharma packaging may seem simpler to produce because it is designed to look generic, certain aspects can be more difficult. It is critical for a clinical trial package to ‘protect the blind.’ Everything —from the positioning of any printed elements to the color—has to look exactly identical. Even slight variations are unacceptable.

The ‘Blinding’ Process

Typically, customers will send the supplier the products that will be used in a trial, and Bilcare works with customers to find design solutions. The pharma packaging is “blinded” by being redesigned and altered, to ensure that no one will be able to spot any differences. This is necessary when a trial is comparing the effectiveness of two different drugs. Often, a drug that is already approved and on the market is being compared to a new one.

Utilizing Technology to Increase Productivity

Bar codes, when used on clinical trial packaging, can be another way to “protect the blind.” Suppliers say they also help make the randomization process more efficient. Bilcare have more packaging solutions that often incorporates bar code printers, as well as track and trace capabilities, into machinery lines for customers using its automated equipment. They often prints 2-D bar codes on labels for products that will be sent to a trial. The codes contain randomization and blinding information. This leads to shorter production times, quality improvement, and cost reduction. There is an initial investment in hardware and software, but the long-term savings can be well worth it, especially for larger trials.

Utilizing the Blister to Increase Patient Compliance

Some suppliers say calendarized blisters have become much more popular for clinical trials. So these blisters help ensure the patient adheres to a specific dosing regimen. Generally, blisters are more compliant, especially if titration is involved or the patient needs to take two different products. A blister may also be dictated due to the stability of a drug.

Electronic Solutions

Packages that electronically monitor patients’ dosing regimens have been around for more than 10 years and are only now slowly increasing in popularity. The market is beginning to develop. Electronic adherence packages are now being considered by drug developers as a tool to collect data. In most cases, the data captured is the date and time patients remove medicine from the package. A bottle cap, with a built-in timer, is one type of electronic monitoring system.

Responsibilities Shift in the Future 

Pharma companies are outsourcing many new types of jobs lately, which have traditionally been done internally. Bilcare  is one supplier that has been taking on additional responsibilities that have included managing the entire supply chain.