Dexter Tjoa, CEO of Tjoapack explores the innovations set to transform secondary pharmaceutical packaging from 2024 onwards.
Patient centricity is one of the major themes in both drug formulation development and in packaging at the moment, particularly for injectable medications. sublingual films
Historically, administering injectable medications posed significant challenges for patients, leading to risks of medication errors and contamination due to manual syringe preparation. In response to these challenges, the pharmaceutical sector has invested in patient-centric solutions to make self-administration easier and safer, resulting in the development of pre-filled syringes (PFS).
PFS have several advantages over traditional vial and syringe methods. They contain precisely measured single doses of medication, eliminating the risk of under- or over-dosing and ensuring a safer and more convenient user experience.
Drug counterfeiting is another key trend in the industry, due to the threat to patient safety and supply chain integrity. Oral solid dose (OSD) medications, not just injectables, are at risk. An estimated 13.6% of medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified, with this percentage rising to 19.1% for antimalarials.
Governments have mandated serialisation on all drug units to prevent falsified medicines from entering the supply chain. Legal frameworks, such as the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) and the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), phase II, establish the legal requirements for authenticity and traceability.
Tampering is another risk to patient safety. OSD packaging has made use of blister packs in the EU for many years as a means of tackling this issue by allowing patients to easily see whether doses have been touched or replaced since they left the factory.
To unleash the full potential of drug products, it’s crucial to have appropriate packaging. This ensures patients have what they need for accurate and safe treatment. Recent innovations in secondary packaging can support pharmaceutical companies to meet the changing needs of the market:
In the pharmaceutical industry, the adoption of cutting-edge packaging solutions often requires substantial capital investment, which can be daunting for companies. As a result, many pharmaceutical companies are forging strategic alliances with expert contract packaging organisations (CPOs).
CPOs can provide infrastructure, capacity, and expertise to efficiently finish and package drug products, meeting regulatory standards and ensuring safe, high-quality products. Beyond infrastructure, CPOs offer insights into product-specific packaging needs, developing customised services that add tangible value to customers. This collaboration can extend beyond operational efficiencies, as CPOs also assist in designing packaging that resonates with target audiences, enhancing branding and product promotion.
Taking advantage of these partnerships in 2024 and beyond, more companies can take advantage of incoming secondary packaging innovations to keep on top of emerging market trends. This will ensure more patients benefit from treatments that are not just effective, but safe and convenient to use.
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