Packaging and Distribution

Virtual pilot programs examine scenarios that may occur while implementing serialization requirements for the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act.

Catalent Pharma Solutions announced plans to quadruple the cold-chain capacity at its existing clinical supply storage and distribution facility in Shanghai, China. The expansion comes in response to increasing demand from domestic and multinational pharmaceutical sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs).

The agency provides terms and recommendations for packaging and labeling of injectable medical products.

The joint marketing agreement allows the companies to expand dedicated blister feed system technologies.

Test results of the new multilayer plastic container show that it offers sensitive pharmaceuticals extra protection against moisture vapor and oxygen permeability.

The challenge of achieving zero visible defects (i.e., particulates) in parenteral drugs will require a coordinated effort at all stages of the supply chain, particularly in the production and filling of primary containers.

Manufacturers of parenteral drugs face challenges to increase efficiency, control particulates, control extractables and leachables, and eliminate product/package interactions; new containers and packaging equipment offer increased options.

The complexity of new packaging regulations laid out in the Falsified Medicines Directive could threaten the existence of smaller pharma and packaging companies.

Electronic pharmaceutical tablet counters meet demands for accuracy, flexibility, speed, compact size, easy cleanability, and quick changeover.

FDA warns that compounded or repackaged drugs stored in certain syringes made by Becton-Dickinson may lose potency because of an interaction with the rubber stopper.

Adents’ Pharma Suite serialization software features track-and-trace capabilities.

Label Vision Systems (LVS) will be fully integrated into Microscan and the LVS name will become a brand within Microscan’s barcode label verification portfolio.

UPS joins the Global Health Supply Chain Technical Assistance program to help secure the drug supply chain.

Virtual pilot programs that simulate scenarios can help the pharmaceutical industry address core issues in the implementation of serialization systems that comply with the US Drug Supply Chain Security Act.

Citing failure to meet child-resistant closure requirement, Merck has advised that all bottles should be examined for cracks and that affected bottles should be kept out of children’s reach.

Ger Standhardt, manager of knowledge development & projects at NVC, shares insights on the role of pharmaceutical packaging and accessible design in patient adherence.

WuXi PharmaTech and TruTag Technologies successfully applied and detected TruTag's edible microtags on solid-dosage drug products and found no effect on dissolution.

Wourld Courier's Climate Optimisation Research & Engineering (CORE) Lab near Cologne, Germany, will enhance package evaluation and validation.

Choosing the correct shipping solutions, including packaging, transportation mode, and monitoring, helps mitigate the risks inherent in global logistics.

Create an efficient global labeling strategy that is compliant with both electronic and paper-based package-insert requirements.

CSafe and AES will support controlled-temperature shipping through the Basel, Switzerland airport from their new service center.

Checkweighers, metal detectors, x-ray inspectors, leak detectors, headspace analyzers, and optical inspection systems for packaging were demonstrated at INTERPHEX 2015.

Sepha's VisionScan Max can leak-test full production batches of blister packs.

Electronic pharmaceutical tablet counters meet demands for accuracy, flexibility, speed, compact size, easy cleanability, and quick changeover.

PTI Inspection System’s VeriPac 310 leak detection and package integrity testing system reduces waste and provides the user with a clear evaluation of package integrity.

The agency gives a limited reprieve to dispensers but requires other trading partners to provide product tracing information.

Pharmacy associates say more education regarding the transactional requirements of DSCSA is needed.

The agency clarifies its requirements for allowable excess volume and labeled vial fill size in injectables and biologics.

Although full traceability is not required by law in the US until 2023, companies could benefit from implementing it now.

Groninger has developed FlexPro 50, an isolator system for aseptic processing of nested syringes, cartridges, and vials. FlexPro 50 is capable of achieving outputs of up to 5000 containers per hour.