The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, and in turn, its contract service providers. The rapid increase in products like COVID-19 testing kits, demand surges for essential headache and cold medicines, and as pharma focuses its efforts on vaccine production, packaging needs are intensifying and changing. Speed to market and flexibility are more important than ever and contract packagers are adjusting and adapting to these changing needs brought on by the pandemic. –KB

Nic Hunt, Chief Strategy Officer at Jones Healthcare Group discusses key drivers impacting pharmaceutical packaging amid the pandemic, some of the main challenges, and the latest innovations.

Contract Pharma: What are the key drivers impacting contract packaging amid the pandemic?

Nic Hunt: As a result of the global pandemic, we are seeing a significant increase in medical device test kit project work. Whether it’s designing and prototyping COVID-19 test kit packaging or assembling kits for providers, Jones Healthcare Group is helping a number of companies launch new kits to market quickly.
 
In addition to standard test kit development, we have been leading important work creating “intelligent” kit options equipped with Near-Field Communications (NFC) technology. These connected kits not only allow consumers to quickly confirm a kit is authentic and manufactured under safe conditions, but can also provide consumers with easy access to tutorial videos that demonstrate proper use and sample collection – all of this with the tap of a smartphone to the packaging. Ultimately, this helps reduce pressure on healthcare systems, testing labs and kit manufacturers in a time of unprecedented demand. At this time, we have provisional designs with partners undergoing regulatory approval.

As far as other contract packaging trends in the pharmaceutical market, we have seen a sharp increase in folding carton, pressure sensitive label, convenience vial filling, blistering and pouching order volumes for analgesic and upper respiratory products such as headache, cough and cold medications. As a result, we have flexed our capacity to manage this demand in support of global consumer health brands as they provide our communities with essential products throughout the COVID-19 situation.  

CP: How are pharmaceutical packaging needs changing?

NH: In addition to managing increased demand for medications, pharmaceutical companies have had to pivot resources to support the COVID-19 situation. For example, a pharmaceutical customer of ours moved to produce hand sanitizer in partnership with Health Canada to help keep the market supplied – and we were able to provide quick support developing and manufacturing pressure sensitive labels for the new product. We are also seeing pharmaceutical companies pivot their resources to vaccine production and packaging, which provides us with opportunities to expand our offerings, capabilities and capacity to keep our customers’ core business moving forward.

CP: What are some of the main challenges in today’s market?

NH: Speed to market, especially today, continues to be a challenge for pharmaceutical companies. It’s more important than ever for packaging suppliers to have flexible capacity to support demand surges. Given product development cycles continue to become shorter, it’s also important for to help companies launch new products and product line extensions quickly.

This is paramount for products like COVID-19 testing kits – these need to be developed and launched with utmost speed to support our healthcare system. As a supplier providing structural development and prototyping support for cartons and labels, intelligent capabilities, as well as kitting and assembly services, we are proud to have supported many manufacturers to move new kits through development to regulatory approval quickly.

We have also been able to accommodate recent demand surges for over-the-counter medications. And, we continue to make investments in the business to grow our capacity and increase our resilience as an organization, despite today’s uncertain market. For example, we are investing in a new, highly flexible blister line with serialization capabilities, as well as a new folding carton printing press for our healthcare customers this year. We will have more to share on these investments shortly, and other planned investments rolling out in 2021.

CP: What are some of the latest innovations in pharma packaging?

NH: In addition to the intelligent, connected COVID-19 test kit packaging mentioned earlier, we are working on a range of monitored medication adherence solutions that help patients take the right prescription medications at the right time. This includes blister packaging with embedded, transmitting printed electronics. When a patient removes a medication from a blister, the packaging can send notifications to caregivers or healthcare providers confirming the medication has been removed, and at what time it was removed. If medication is not removed as prescribed, the patient can receive reminder notifications via text message, phone call, or other methods. This tracking data is stored in a secure cloud to help healthcare providers manage medication schedules with their patients, track progress and more. This type of packaging not only supports those who manage complex medication schedules, but can also support adherence and data collection for clinical trials and other research applications.

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Nic Hunt is the Chief Strategy Officer for Jones Healthcare Group, a leader in advanced packaging and medication dispensing solutions. In his role he focuses on growth, aligning Jones with health and wellness markets to supply the best solutions for patient and consumer needs. This includes oversight for the company’s Innovation Solutions Group, which develops “new-to-the-world” connected packaging. He has experience in multiple packaging industries, with responsibility for business units and global functions while based in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. He is a passionate supporter of materials science and its important role in creating a healthier, more sustainable world with a higher standard of living.