‘No mess’ delivery tech to combat overdose, says GSK
GSK Consumer Healthcare’s ‘Voltaren No Mess’ was awarded one of three prizes in the Health Product category at PharmaPack Europe 2018 – a UBM event – in Paris, France earlier this month.
‘Voltaren No Mess’ contains an applicator for GSK’s anti-inflammatory over-the-counter (OTC) analgesic, which the UK-headquartered firm launched in Europe last year.
GSK Consumer Healthcare’s global packaging development manager Sylvain Fradin told us the technology offers Voltaren consumers a simple and hygienic way of applying the gel directly to the point of pain, while keeping their hands clean.
The applicator – which also serves as the product cap – is made of plastic components with a pull/push mechanism for opening and closing the product. An overcap protects the applicator from dust.
“The consumer pulls the applicator head, doses the gel on the surface and applies it directly onto the skin.
“The cap closes by itself during application while pressing on the skin which avoids overdosing,” Fradin told us.
Reduce overdose risk
GSK told us ‘Voltaren No Mess’ is the first applicator on a pain relief product containing an active ingredient, and consequently has been designed to avoid overdosing.
“Unlike the industry-standard roll-on or sponge applicators which have no intuitive closing system – which could link to overdose during application – the pull/push mechanism allows the cap to close by itself when applying the gel on the skin,” said Fradin.
Further, the applicator head surface allows consumers to see exactly how much of the gel they are applying, he said.
The applicator can also serve to extend reach, helping consumers – and particularly aging populations – reach their back and shoulders more easily, Fradin told us.
Other winners in the Health Product category include UCB Pharma’s CIMZIA Pack of 2 AutoClicks Prefilled Pens indicated for patients with hand dexterity issues, and Laboratories Virbac’s ‘all-in-one MultiDose Delivery Cap for the application of liquid products.
