Smart Pharmaceutical Packaging Development Deal Reached

DSM Venturing, the corporate venturing unit of Royal DSM N.V., announced that it has made an equity investment in The Compliers Group International B.V. (TCG). The Netherlands-based company focuses on the development of smart pharmaceutical packaging solutions that contain microchips which enable the monitoring of a patient's therapy compliance.

"Intelligent packaging systems aimed at improving patient adherence could substantially contribute to decreasing overall healthcare costs in the future as they reduce the need for more costly interventions,” said Tony de Vrught, Vice President DSM Specialty Packaging. “I see this as a logical step forward in combining our knowledge of Life Sciences and Materials Sciences opening up interesting perspectives in innovative packaging applications. I look forward to working with TCG to develop innovative solutions for this market."

According to the company, TCG's smart packaging solutions can be applied in any existing standard medication blister and will record when a pill has been removed from the blister. This information can be read out wirelessly (e.g. with a mobile phone) and made available to caregivers and patients in day-to-day medication therapy or to pharmaceutical companies or research organizations in clinical studies.

The aim of the system is to help both patients and volunteers taking part in clinical studies to take their pills at the right time. Caregivers and pharmaceutical companies will be able to better diagnose or judge the effectiveness of medication. This can help to substantially reduce healthcare costs.

First proof of concept of TCG's "Objective therapy Compliance Measurement" technology has been obtained. TCG also applies its technology in projects with Ministries of Health, health insurers and others, such as research organizations.

The investment is in line with DSM's stated ambition to build a leading position in Specialty Packaging, one of the four Emerging Business Areas as defined in its Vision 2010 strategy.

The company says DSM's capabilities in Materials Sciences and Life Sciences enable it to develop unique innovations for the packaging industries. In addition to developing intelligent food packaging systems, DSM Specialty Packaging is also exploring opportunities in the rapidly developing smart packaging market for pharma and nutraceuticals.

The cooperation with TCG will facilitate DSM Specialty Packaging's entrance into the markets where the convergence of the packed products, materials, systems and services is a key factor to deliver functional value to the users. Next to the investment DSM and TCG will work together on the development of new technologies.