Choosing the route of delivery and package protection can make or break even the best formulated medicine. Each product has a story and a unique situation when it comes to pharmaceutical packaging. It’s certainly not one size fits all, and the solution could be very different for two medicines even if their therapeutic treatments are the same. With this in mind, it is wise to ask yourself certain questions to help understand what kind of medical packaging is necessary for your product. Here’s a few sample questions to get started.
“Who will be using my product?”
Will your drug be part of a clinical study? It may need to be in blinded packaging to hide its identity and dosage from the participants. Who will be taking the medicine? Get to know your patient and what kind of setting they will be in when taking the product. One type of packaging is ideal for a certain setting but may not be appropriate for another. Blister packaging, for example, would help a patient taking an antibiotic to keep track of the dosage. It also helps a nurse or caretaker ensure patient compliance. Blister packaging, however, is not child-proof without a specific design. A bottle with a child-proof seal is better suited for this purpose.
“How will my product be protected?”
It’s obvious that a drug needs some form of protection to get it safely from production to the patient. The question is, what kind of protection does it need? That answer depends on the product’s chemistry and what form it is in, whether it be liquid, capsules, or even an aerosol. Aluminum foil in blister packaging, for example, seals the product and prevents oxidation from occurring. A color tinted bottle keeps sunlight from damaging a liquid product. The product may need a certain kind of packaging to prevent it from breaking during shipment. Your packager needs to understand these factors to help you get the medicine safely to your consumers.
“What needs to be done to stay compliant?”
Last but not least, it is critical that your pharmaceutical packaging is in compliance with government laws. The FDA, for example, requires serialization for all commercial drugs so they can be tracked from the shelf back to the source. this means that each product has its own serialized code. A good packager will work with you to figure out how to do that in your unique situation, so you can rest easy knowing that your product is safe, secure and compliant.
Packaging for a medical product is complicated. A good packager will work with you to provide simple solutions and peace of mind.
