11.01.15
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is part of a UK-based consortium developing technologies that will spearhead the commercialization of intelligent pharmaceutical packaging.
The project, titled REMEDIES, launched in 2014 and due for completion March 2018, is headed by GlaxoSmithKline with research led by the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing. It brings together key players in the pharmaceutical supply chain to bring new emerging technologies to market that have the potential to improve medicine manufacturing and supply and offer more personalized, faster and cheaper drug delivery.
The project focuses on five technology-based application themes spanning both ends of clinical and commercial supply chains. These themes address active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, primary to secondary manufacturing, super-critical fluid technology, agile packaging and printed electronics. CPI’s role is to collaborate with the project partners including GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca to develop and scale up “smart packaging” concepts incorporating printed electronics.
Printed electronics within packaging can improve patient outcomes and compliance by providing information and validation around anti-counterfeiting, product tampering and whether the drug is fit for consumption. Smart packaging is also easily integrated with NFC, RFID and other wireless based applications providing the opportunity to optimize logistics operations and stock control within the product life cycle.
“The ability to integrate printed sensors into pharmaceutical packaging opens up a host of opportunities for the industry both in improving patient care and the logistics associated with the product life cycle,” Dr Alan McClleland, business manager at CPI, said.
The project, titled REMEDIES, launched in 2014 and due for completion March 2018, is headed by GlaxoSmithKline with research led by the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing. It brings together key players in the pharmaceutical supply chain to bring new emerging technologies to market that have the potential to improve medicine manufacturing and supply and offer more personalized, faster and cheaper drug delivery.
The project focuses on five technology-based application themes spanning both ends of clinical and commercial supply chains. These themes address active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, primary to secondary manufacturing, super-critical fluid technology, agile packaging and printed electronics. CPI’s role is to collaborate with the project partners including GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca to develop and scale up “smart packaging” concepts incorporating printed electronics.
Printed electronics within packaging can improve patient outcomes and compliance by providing information and validation around anti-counterfeiting, product tampering and whether the drug is fit for consumption. Smart packaging is also easily integrated with NFC, RFID and other wireless based applications providing the opportunity to optimize logistics operations and stock control within the product life cycle.
“The ability to integrate printed sensors into pharmaceutical packaging opens up a host of opportunities for the industry both in improving patient care and the logistics associated with the product life cycle,” Dr Alan McClleland, business manager at CPI, said.