Compliance packaging excellence awarded

Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News staff

Continuing a long-standing tradition, the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council (HCPC) has recognized several packages for their compliance-prompting features. HCPC’s Compliance Package of the Year competition has been an annual event since 1995 and consists of two categories: one for trade packages released in the past year and the other for innovative designs not yet used commercially. The winning packages for the 2011 market year are:

• 2011 Compliance Package of the Year: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.’s Tasigna 150/200 mg Physician Sample.
• Innovative Design: Burgopak Rx Series Child Resistant Slider.
• CPY First Runner Up: Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s ViibrydTM vilazodone HCl tablets, 30-Day Treatment Pack.
• CPY Second Runner Up: Walmart New and Improved Shellpak Adherence Package.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. was recognized for Tasigna 150/200 mg Physician Sample. Submitted by Anderson Packaging Inc. on behalf of Novartis, the Novartis Tasigna Starter Kit is designed to initiate adult patients to treatment of Ph+ Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Employed is the MWV Dosepak, a child-resistant calendarized unit-dose package with 28 capsules for seven days of therapy. The kit also contains an instructional card on co-pay assistance programs, education materials on DVD and a USB device, a record keeper to track medications, a patient medication guide brochure, and a “wheel” for patients to determine the appropriate intervals for product dosing and consumption of food. All items are provided in an innovative carton design.

HCPC program judges found the package to be “one of the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen,” reported one. “While effectively delivering the product (and protecting it), the kit provides detailed medication guides, patient support, financial support, and information for prescribers.” Another commented, “Pleasing graphics, well-written guidance materials convey a caring tone to the patient, without minimizing the risks of the therapy. Extraordinary attention seems to have been dedicated to this package.”

Last year Novartis was recognized for its Diovan HCT Shellpak, which won the 2010 Compliance Package of the Year.

Achieving the first runner-up spot this year was Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. for its Viibryd vilazodone HCl tablets, 30-Day Treatment Pack. Also submitted by Anderson Packaging on behalf of Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc., the Forest ViibrydTM 30- day Starter Pack employs Anderson Packaging’s IntuiDose.

One of the judges remarked: “Compared to the other packs being judged, this one has to deliver more complicated instructions because the dose or med varies for three different time periods during the month. That presents the only real challenge to the patient. Assuming the physician or pharmacist offers some initial instruction, this is truly a winning package. It’s actually enjoyable to unfold, and the graphics do a terrific job in their use of color to help the patient follow his or her drug regimen. Instructions are easy to access, pills look easy to use, and it’s apparent what has been taken. Kudos to the package designer(s).”

Second runner-up is the Walmart New and Improved Shellpak Adherence Package from MWV Healthcare. Shellpak features a child-resistant and senior-friendly outer plastic shell that protects medication tablets packaged in a 30-day calendar blister card. This Shellpak design features a plastic shell made with 17% less plastic, leading to an estimated savings of more than 750 tons of plastic per year. A bar code window added to the Shellpak now enables the pharmacist to scan the bar code without sliding the blister out of the package.

Receiving the Innovative Design award is the Burgopak Rx Series Child Resistant Slider. An extension of the Burgopak’s original design, the Burgopak CR Slider features two buttons, one on either side of the pack, that patients push while simultaneously pulling the end tab. The pack slides open, revealing the blister held in a plastic tray on one side, and the patient information booklet on the other. The Burgopak CR Slider pack successfully achieved the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission’s F=1 for child resistance and senior-friendly effectiveness. The pack encourages compliance by keeping the blister, patient information and outer carton connected at all times, HCPC reported.

The Compliance Package of the Year winner, the First Runner-up and the Innovative Design winner have been asked to designate scholarship funds to a university-level packaging school focused on the pharmaceutical industry.

Complete competition guidelines are available on the Internet by visiting www.hcpconline.org or by contacting the HCPC offices at 804/338-5778.