Compliance-prompting packaging innovation celebrated

Winners of the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council (HCPC) annual Compliance Package of the Year competition were revealed at the organization’s RxAdherence2017 conference on May 2 in Florham Park, NJ. The annual program honors the most innovative pharmaceutical packages designed to improve patient adherence for the preceding market year. This year’s winners are:

HCPC shared the following details about these packages:

2016 HCPC Compliance Package of the Year: Merck Zepatier Medication Package from WestRock

The Zepatier Medication Package presents a two-week dosing regimen with a calendared blister labeled by day on each individual pill cavity. (Two two-week packages make up a monthly supply of Zepatier.) A 5/6^th panel provides space for medication information, dosing instructions, and details on how to navigate the calendar, reports HCPC.

“WestRock and Merck partnered to design the Zepatier package to help HCV patients adhere to their medication,” states John Grinnell, VP, Sales, Health, Beauty, & Adherence, WestRock, in the news release issued by HCPC. “Packaging is the one tool that stays with the patient throughout the medication journey, making it uniquely effective in providing regimen support.”

One judge stated that the package has a “very clearly explained regimen with an easy-to-read font type and size. The red color is used appropriately to emphasize important instructions. With clearly stated details printed on the inside of the fold-open package and arrows guiding the patient through each daily dose, the package encourages compliance by keeping the regimen as simple as possible.”

Read on about the 2016 HCPC Compliance Package of the Year First Runner Up: Braeburn Pharmaceuticals’s Probuphine Implant Kit, manufactured by Sharp Packaging Solutions

2016 HCPC Compliance Package of the Year First Runner Up: Braeburn Pharmaceuticals’s Probuphine Implant Kit, manufactured by Sharp Packaging Solutions

The Sharp Global Design team was asked to design and construct a packaging solution for the Probuphine (buprenorphine) implant that could contain multiple components of various sizes in a physician-friendly package, reports HCPC. The Sharp team partnered with Braeburn Pharmaceuticals during many stages of the product packaging development and worked to deliver a package that could support the correct use and administration of the drug implant by physicians.

Said one judge: “This implant kit seems very comprehensive for physicians, as well as for patients. The kit demonstrates the critical role that packaging and labeling can play in guiding professionals through safe and effective product use. The font and colors printed on the package labeling are clear and promote comprehension, and the patient materials are also very clearly stated. The 3-D package design successfully accommodates a significant amount of product components and labeling materials in reasonable footprint. There are sufficient warnings and tracking features to further guide both professionals and patients for appropriate product use and security.”

Read on about the 2016 HCPC Compliance Package of the Year Second Runner Up: CVS Store Brand OTC Compliance Pack 

2016 HCPC Compliance Package of the Year Second Runner Up: CVS Store Brand OTC Compliance Pack

CVS was looking for a new way to guide patients to OTC treatments in a way that also introduced them to the value of CVS Store Brand products, reports HCPC. CVS selected WestRock’s Dosepak Express package and a WestRock merchandising display for location under the pharmacy checkout counter for the private-labeled, store-brand products. The program launched in stores in September 2016, with 10 items currently in the program.

HCPC points out that “while the term ‘compliance’ is typically not associated with ‘take-as-needed’ OTC products, the Dosepak Express format provides the convenience, ease of use, and portability necessary to promote proper adherence use by patients, while offering ample billboard space to accomplish CVS’ marketing goals.”

Each package contains 14 tablets. Child-resistance features in the outer pack allows elimination of difficult to use peel-push OTC blisters, HCPC reports. And CVS’s brand identity is maintained throughout the life of the product through the connection of blistered drug product to the outer package. 

One judge commented, “It is good to see patient-friendly packaging used for store-brand products, which can increase product value for the patient. The expanded content label includes helpful information in a very readable font size. The tamper evidence is helpful and clear for the patient.”

Read on about the 2016 HCPC Innovative Design Award: Med-ic Syringe Pack equipped with Med-ic ECM (Electronic Compliance Monitor) Technology, submitted by Intelligent Devices SEZC Inc. (IDI) for Information Mediary Corp.

2016 HCPC Innovative Design Award: Med-ic Syringe Pack equipped with Med-ic ECM (Electronic Compliance Monitor) Technology, submitted by Intelligent Devices SEZC Inc. (IDI) for Information Mediary Corp.

The Med-ic Electronic Compliance Monitor tracks medication compliance in real time by recording the time and date that each dose is removed by the patient. The 2016 entry, a packaging solution for syringes, also allows the patient or caregiver to indicate the injection location on a body part, upper arm, abdomen, buttocks, or thigh. The package can also monitor storage temperature to ensure product integrity, HCPC reports.

One judge called the package “very ambitious” as it is “attempting to promote patient compliance as well as ensure product safety and security. The downloadable app and interactive package should be very helpful for patients. The embedded electronic tag will be very effective in registering package opening, and I wonder whether it could also play a role in tamper evidence. The status indicator light for demonstrating product temperature safety will also be very helpful to patients.”

For more details, visit HCPC's Web site.

Sharp Packaging Services will be at Booth #3136 CPhI North America May 16-18 in Philadelphia.

All images provided by HCPC.