Packaging and Distribution

The content and quality of information supplied with drug products are among the most specifically defined areas associated with the products for sale. For patient or drug user, the information is presented in patient information leaflets (PILs) placed in the package. The readability testing of PILs is an important stage in the process of making the texts contained in the summary of product characteristics comprehensible to users, as this article discusses.

Drug makers and their suppliers will need good planning and organization to meet the new bar coding requirements for drug products used in hospitals.

Protecting a product from temperature abuse is gaining importance as regulators seek proof of product stability throughout the distribution process.

With new features such as servo-controlled operations and modularity, today's packaging machines offer enhanced flexibility, increased uptime, and reduced product waste.

Based on a German initiative, an international standard on quality management systems for the primary packaging materials of medicinal products is discussed in this article. This new directive will help to standardize the production of primary packaging materials by defining global requirements.

The process of designing a new drug package must follow specific steps to ensure low costs and rapid market approval.

New blister packaging offers patient compliance aids, child-resistant mechanisms, and space to include brand information.

There can be little argument that packaging is at the forefront of the fight against counterfeit drugs, which currently costs the industry between 6-10% of the value of pharmaceutical sales. According to IMS Health, the figure is approximately $22 billion from global pharmaceutical sales of $364 billion. To set this in context, counterfeiting of all goods costs $200-400 billion annually, claims the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group. According to the the US Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, it can take an average of $250 million and 10 years to legally develop and market a drug, but it is possible for a counterfeiter to 'reproduce' a product within a couple of months for as little as $250000.

Interphex provided pharmaceutical manufacturers an opportunity to view the latest packaging materials and machinery.

Various types of metal detectors on teh market today can be used to protect product quality.

The latest generation of packaging equipment boasts technologies surpassing those of its predecessors while offering ease in operation, maintenance, and integration.

Already proven to be a useful tool in other industries, RFID may be the next innovative solution in product tracking and tracing.

This article is intended to keep readers informed about the developments concerning the local language requirements for European Union member countries. The first part deals with the reasons why these language requirements are about to become more difficult to meet and the second part, based on recent application knowledge, offers some potential solutions.

The recently issued FDA concept paper about aseptic processing shows how the current guidelines could be expanded and makes recommendations for alternatives to traditional cleanroom installations such as isolator-equipped aseptic filling lines and blow?fill?seal equipment.

Thousands of exhibitors and vendors showcase their packaging equipment and innovations.

Packaging technology is moving into the 21st century with innovative and cost-effective developments, including sound, moving images and even tracking devices. What was once deemed science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact. This article explores the latest developments in blister pack technology, discussing the range of benefits to both pharmaceutical manufacturers and patients.

Prefilled-syringe manufacturers implement built-in safety features to prevent potential needlestick injuries.

Packaging manufacturers and suppliers exhibited their latest innovations at the 2002 Interphex trade show.

Brand and product security technologies offer pharmaceutical manufacturers anticounterfeiting solutions.

As the use of child-resistant packaging increases, efforts are underway to harmonize global standards and regulations.

When FDA reviewed PDA's Technical Report No. 34 about isolator systems, significant differences of opinion between the organizations came to light.

A limited number of container sizes, dispensing lanes, computerized tracking, and polyethylene mailing bags are just a few of the new elements of packaging launched at one company's automated pharmacy facility.

NIR quality control technology, relatively new to the pharmaceutical industry, could revolutionize processing and packaging.

Manufacturers are gearing up to make labeling chnges required on most over&#173the&#173counter pharmaceutical products.

The latest developments in packaging technology made a strong showing at the 2001 Interphex exhibition.