Richmond, Virginia - The Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council (HCPC) awarded the winners of its annual Compliance Package of the Year competition at RxAdherence 2012, the organization’s annual conference on patient adherence and compliance prompting packaging issues. HCPC’s Compliance Package of the Year competition has been an annual event since 1995 and consists of two categories: one for trade packages released in the past year and the other for innovative designs not yet used commercially.
The results for the 2011 market year are:
- 2011 Compliance Package of the Year: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation’s Tasigna 150/200mg Physician Sample
- Innovative Design: Burgopak Rx Series Child Resistant Slider
- CPY First Runner Up: Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. ViibrydTM vilazodone HCl tablets, 30 Day Treatment Pack
- CPY Second Runner Up: Walmart New and Improved Shellpak® Adherence Package
Submitted by AndersonBrecon, Inc. on behalf of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the Novartis Tasigna Starter Kit is a comprehensive introductory pack for adult patients initiating therapy for treatment of Ph+ Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. The package features a compliance prompting, calendarized unit dose pack with 28 capsules comprising 7 days of therapy, utilizing the MWV Dosepak® child resistant design. Concise graphics guide the patient to the dosing regimen. Outer graphics highlight the opening instructions for the novel, child resistant features incorporated into the pack design. Supplementing the therapy, the Novartis Tasigna Starter Kit contains many supporting elements to assist patients, including an instructional card guiding patients to co-pay assistance programs, a patient education program DVD, a USB device containing education materials, and disease state education. In addition, the pack contains a record keeper to track medications. The pack includes a wheel for patients to determine the appropriate intervals for product dosing and consumption of food. Information and guidance is included to enable effective reimbursement for script fills. The pack also includes a patient medication guide brochure. All of this information is conveniently housed in an innovative carton design. The six judges were impressed by and commented on the comprehensiveness of the package, particularly the food wheel guide that was provided. One stated in their remarks, “. . . . this package is one of the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen. While effectively delivering the product (and protecting it), the kit provides detailed medication guides, patient support, financial support, and information for prescribers.” Another commented, “Pleasing graphics, well-written guidance materials convey a caring tone to the patient, without minimizing the risks of the therapy. Extraordinary attention seems to have been dedicated to this package.” As with last year’s entry, Novartis’ Diovan HCT® Shellpak®, which won the 2010 Compliance Package of the Year, it seems Novartis has provided another well-thought out design incorporating many features that will help patients with their adherence to the prescription.
First Runner Up: Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. ViibrydTM vilazodone HCl tablets, 30 Day Treatment Pack Also submitted by AndersonBrecon on behalf of Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Forest ViibrydTM 30 day Starter Pack which utilizes AndersonBrecon's IntuiDoseTM which won the First Runner Up category. One of the judges remarked, “Compared to the other packs being judged, this one has to deliver more complicated instructions because the dose or med varies for three different time periods during the month. That presents the only real challenge to the patient. Assuming the physician or pharmacist offers some initial instruction, this is truly a winning package. It’s actually enjoyable to unfold, and the graphics do a terrific job in their use of color to help the patient follow his or her drug regimen. Instructions are easy to access, pills look easy to use, and it’s apparent what has been taken. Kudos to the package designer(s).”
