BD DRUG-DEVICE CO-PACKING SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE DIFFERENTIATION AND IMPROVE EXPERIENCE In this article, Janice Adkins, Associate Director, Global Marketing, BD, discusses the benefits that co-packing, the practice of providing drug preparation and delivery systems along with a medication, can bring to pharmaceutical manufacturers, clinicians and patients. A WELL-ESTABLISHED SOLUTION TO AID IN MEDICATION ADHERENCE “Providing a vetted, With medication nonadherence estimated co-packaged device at 50%,1 packaging solutions have emerged alongside a drug product as useful tools to help patients manage their can put manufacturers at therapies. Several studies have suggested an adherence benefit as a result of packaging ease that their products interventions, such as calendarised blister are being used as packages.2-6 In addition to adherence intended and help prevent packaging, some manufacturers have employed co-packing strategies to facilitate variability that may lead improved adherence to medications that are to product complaints.” co-administered. Examples include: • Kisqali® (ribociclib) and Femara® complex dosing regimens and/or (letrozole) Co-Pack for breast cancer by reconstitution requirements has spurred Novartis (Basel, Switzerland) innovation in packaging solutions as • Viekira Pak-RBV® (ombitasvir/ well. However, rather than drug-drug paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir and co-packing, as is the case with ribavirin) for hepatitis C from AbbVie co-administered oral medications, (Chicago, IL, US) parenteral medications often require • Orkambi® (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) for packaging solutions where drugs are cystic fibrosis from Vertex (Boston, provided alongside delivery devices or MA, US). other supplies to enable their preparation Janice Adkins or administration. This is most apparent Associate Director, Global Marketing Not all of these packaging configurations in areas where patients or caregivers are T: +1 201 847 4176 E:
[email protected] are complex, with some involving a simple required to manipulate drug components, “box within a box” design.