Schreiner MediPharm, working in conjunction with the Dutch technology company ECCT (Experts in Communications & Connectivity Technology), has developed a smart blister pack for a global pharmaceutical company designed to enhance medication adherence for clinical trial participants.

Patients that do not adhere to medication therapy can account for about 20 percent, forcing trial organizers to compensate for the resulting accuracy deficit by increasing patient populations as much as 60 percent.

Schreiner MediPharm, ECCT and the pharmaceutical company involved developed a smart packaging solution for patient compliance monitoring. When a patient pushes a tablet from the blister pack, data is generated in real time. This data may include medication type, extraction time and specific cavity, and is automatically stored in the smart packaging and transmitted to a database via smartphone app or reader.

This digital therapy monitoring allows physicians to verify that patients have taken their medicine at the right time. Also, the technology allows for interactive communication between physicians and patients. Physicians can also send compliance reminders or dose adjustments to patients.

The smart packaging includes printed electronics without impacting the packaging design, and a smart database platform enables data transfers and analyses. Schreiner MediPharm supplied the required innovative printing technology, and ECCT provided the package’s smart sensors.