IN THE NEWS

June 2007 issue of Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging News

COMPLIANCE PACKAGING AND DRUG DELIVERY

New Routes in Drug Delivery

Package formats hold promise for patient therapy adherence.

...In providing premeasured doses in an easy-to-ingest form, edible film strips would seem to have inherent compliance advantages. Products such as vitamins and breath fresheners are offered in unit of- use strips in cassette formats.

...Tim Notter, vice president, sales and marketing, CWS Contract Packaging (Norwich, NY), says that film-strip technology has to improve to promote prescription-drug delivery.

Besides accommodating enough active ingredient, films must address masking of the flavor. Strips are generally able to supply 50 mg of active product with OTCs and vitamins. Prescription drugs may require 200 mg or more per dose. Strips must be made to immediately dissolve in a palatable form, without grittiness, Notter says. Edible films will emerge as a major factor in oral-dose administration as the technology advances. Children and seniors account for most oral dosing, and both of these groups have an aversion to taking pills, says Notter.
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