"Because of earlier diagnosis, survival rates for some cancers are now three to five years," said Gligorov. "You are now faced with taking care of a patient with a chronic, yet incurable disease." And these older cancer patients may be taking drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, or any number of other ailments. Future cancer drug packaging challenges include offering up more information on drug interactions.
The growth of outpatient and home-based care, according to Dr. Gligorov, means the hospital will be the "rear guard" of cancer treatment, calling for serious patient lifestyle changes. Packaging must address these patient-compliance issues. Some people find it hard to stick with a regimen of antibiotics for a few weeks, imagine taking 20 to 30 pills each day for five years! Pills that most patients say are too big and taste bad.
"The vast majority of cancer drugs available today are injectables, where up to 20-percent of the dose may be lost during preparation. And each dose is based on patient weight and must be prepared especially for that patient. Oral tablets in multiple dosages, in clearly marked packaging, will help to make home cancer care a more successful proposition," he said.
Even then, the "emotional dimension" for the patient must be taken into consideration. "If we switch from an injectable to a tablet," asks Dr. Gligorov, "will that patient think the pills cannot be as strong as the shot or IV? Or, [will he ask if] my doctor switched because my last drug was not working?"
Finally, cancer drugs are so aggressive that disposing of packaging or unused medication becomes a toxic waste issue. What role will packaging play in creating safe and effective disposal, both for the patient, his or her family, and the environment?
Held Feb. 6 and 7 in Paris, Pharmapack is an international conference and exhibition dedicated to innovations in packaging and dispensing systems in the area of pharmacy. Pharmapack offers a platform for exchanges between designers, manufacturers, and suppliers of medical devices, packaging, and production equipment.
• Cancer facts: Cancer is second behind heart disease as the world's largest killer. Fifty-six percent of people who get cancer will die from it. Cancer was responsible for 12 percent of 56 million deaths worldwide in 2000. The most fatal group of cancers, killing a million people each year, includes lung, breast, colorectal and stomach. Liver, cervical, and esophageal cancers account for half a million deaths each year.
• Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization
--By Jim Chrzan, Publisher
The growth of outpatient and home-based care, according to Dr. Gligorov, means the hospital will be the "rear guard" of cancer treatment, calling for serious patient lifestyle changes. Packaging must address these patient-compliance issues. Some people find it hard to stick with a regimen of antibiotics for a few weeks, imagine taking 20 to 30 pills each day for five years! Pills that most patients say are too big and taste bad.
"The vast majority of cancer drugs available today are injectables, where up to 20-percent of the dose may be lost during preparation. And each dose is based on patient weight and must be prepared especially for that patient. Oral tablets in multiple dosages, in clearly marked packaging, will help to make home cancer care a more successful proposition," he said.
Even then, the "emotional dimension" for the patient must be taken into consideration. "If we switch from an injectable to a tablet," asks Dr. Gligorov, "will that patient think the pills cannot be as strong as the shot or IV? Or, [will he ask if] my doctor switched because my last drug was not working?"
Finally, cancer drugs are so aggressive that disposing of packaging or unused medication becomes a toxic waste issue. What role will packaging play in creating safe and effective disposal, both for the patient, his or her family, and the environment?
Held Feb. 6 and 7 in Paris, Pharmapack is an international conference and exhibition dedicated to innovations in packaging and dispensing systems in the area of pharmacy. Pharmapack offers a platform for exchanges between designers, manufacturers, and suppliers of medical devices, packaging, and production equipment.
• Cancer facts: Cancer is second behind heart disease as the world's largest killer. Fifty-six percent of people who get cancer will die from it. Cancer was responsible for 12 percent of 56 million deaths worldwide in 2000. The most fatal group of cancers, killing a million people each year, includes lung, breast, colorectal and stomach. Liver, cervical, and esophageal cancers account for half a million deaths each year.
• Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization
--By Jim Chrzan, Publisher
