Schreiner MediPharm developed the transparent and inconspicuous Covert-Hologram Seal to enable manufacturers, suppliers, and patients to identify whether a pharmaceutical package has been previously opened.
The clear seal does not interfere with the manufacturer’s package design and branding, said product manager of tamper-evident solutions, Tanja Rau: “Nor does it cover any crucial text information, such as expiry date, batch number or serialisation code.”
“However, when it is opened for the first time, an irreversible holographic effect emerges on the cardboard box and the label, which reliably and clearly indicates first opening,” Rau explained.
Printed text underneath the opened seal will not be destroyed, and the seal’s attractive holographic effects will help differentiate the medicine pack from the competition, she told us.
“It offers enhanced security through covert anti-counterfeiting features that are only visible to informed experts,” she added.
While the firm did not disclose cost indications, Rau said she believes the Covert-Hologram Seal offers a “cost-effective solution to pharmaceutical manufacturers that would like to reliably protect their secondary packaging from tampering and counterfeiting, while benefiting from an appealing design.”
The technology is attracting interest within the industry, “especially from companies that are targeting the European market and have to comply with the Falsified Medicines Directive.
“In addition, we see an increasing awareness for these kinds of tamper-evident solutions in other markets as well, such as Asia and North America,” said Rau.
The hologram technology is the latest labelling offering from Schreiner MediPharm. In 2016, the firm developed a label for blinding syringes during clinical trials, designed to prevent researchers from distinguishing between an active drug and placebo to ensure impartiality.
Last year, the firm also launched a ‘smart’ blister pack to improve patient compliance, as well as a Flexi-Cap with anti-counterfeit protection for blinding transparent containers.