Quick Hits: Coronavirus Causes Two Key Shortages

Increased demand due to the pandemic has caused shortages of key hospital painkillers.

Tim HayesContributing Editor, Healthcare Packaging

Apr 17th, 2020

FDA

FDA

A recent FiercePharma article discussed the shortage of anesthetics in U.S. hospitals due to increased demand from coronavirus patients. The FDA posted shortages last Friday, specifically calling out anesthetics propofol and midazolam. API sourcing difficulties could delay companies like Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Hikma Pharmaceuticals from resupplying propofol until October. Certain doses of midazolam are still available, but others may be delayed until early 2021.

To ease shortages, the DEA announced it would allow increased production and imports of midazolam. The DEA also added various painkillers and sedatives to the production increase list, including fentanyl, ketamine, phenobarbital, and diazepam.

FDA Discusses Nov. 2023 DSCSA Future State

At the HDA Traceability Online Seminar (Nov. 1-3, 2021), FDA’s Connie Jung, RPh, talked about how DSCSA continues to transform the pharmaceutical supply chain to preserve drug safety and security.

Matt Tudball, Senior Editor, Recycling, ICIS

Retailers, Brands Ride the Wave of Ocean-Bound Plastic

Ocean-bound plastic is gaining small but significant traction within the packaging sector, particularly from those in the rPET market.

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Quotables and By the Numbers: November 2021

From choosing a mentor to DSCSA readiness to the printed sensor market, quotes and stats in healthcare packaging and logistics.

Pat Reynolds 2016 Official Less Red

A Farewell Lead Off

This column was my responsibility each month for many years.

For product traceability, outbound scanning alone is expected to increase labor by a minimum of 12 to 15% based on recent time studies, per Cardinal Health.

Will Labor Requirements Increase in Meeting DSCSA Milestones?

With many companies either facing or concerned about labor shortages in manufacturing, an expert from Cardinal Health notes that outbound scanning alone may require a 12 to 15% increase in headcount in their operations.

Your CDMO Partner for Finished Products

Your CDMO Partner for Finished Products

When your development, manufacturing, packaging, quality, and delivery needs call for an all-inclusive partner, Sovereign Pharmaceuticals is here. We offer the highest quality contract manufacturing solutions.

3 Healthcare Packaging Updates from PACK EXPO Las Vegas

On this Take Five video, Pat Reynolds showcases three package design innovations from PACK EXPO Las Vegas in pharmaceuticals, personal care, and child-resistance for cannabis.

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EU Regulators, Recycling, and Healthcare Plastics

Packaging suppliers speak about the openness of regulators to understand the slower nature of life science manufacturers in adopting more sustainable packaging.

Compostable Skincare Packs Signal Shift in Tattoo Culture Values

Manik Skincare chooses packaging made from wood- and plant-based materials for its vegan tattoo aftercare products, targeted a new breed of nature-oriented tattoo enthusiasts.

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Temperature-Controlled Logistics Trends to Watch

The ISTA Pharma Committee's annual Technical Exchange highlighted a shift: regulators placing focus on performance qualification data. Also discussed were industry thoughts on climate change, ambient profile development, and more.

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Unibloc-Pump’s Swing-arm Design Makes Cleaning Easier

On display at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, QuickStrip® technology provided pump disassembly without the need for tools.

To meet DSCSA requirements, processes must be put into place to handle supply chain data exchange exceptions.

DSCSA and the Importance of Exception Management

At the HDA Traceability Online Seminar (Nov. 1-3, 2021) the topic of handling exceptions ranged from ‘in the weeds’ to the philosophical. Processes are still emerging for data issues, organizing quarantine, and more.

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HDA Foundation Survey Reveals Uneven Progress on Rx Product Serialization

With 2023 DSCSA requirements around the corner, findings reveal aggregation has slowed. Now in its sixth year, this survey, released as part of HDA’s Traceability Online Seminar (November 1–3), assesses industry abilities to meet DSCSA requirements.

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Workforce Issues Around Women and Remote Work

PPWLN discusses how to incentivize women back into the workplace, increase overall diversity in the workforce, and manage our new world of work. Watch highlights from the panel on this Take Five with Healthcare Packaging video.

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Safety Factors for Ethylene Oxide Sterilization: Patient, Worker, and Environment

The common medical device sterilization method requires optimization, particularly with potential regulatory changes on the horizon. Emissions limits could become more stringent by as much as 90% per one technical affairs VP.

PDI sought out customer feedback to influence the design of the Dual Access Lid.

Disinfecting Wipes Faster and Easier to Access With New Lid Design

The Dual Access Lid design is a flip top lid with snap & close technology to avoid issues with access and drying out.

Emerging EU Sustainability Regulations for Packaging

From the European perspective, Thierry Wagner offered an overview of regulations in the pipeline aiming to reduce plastic use and bolster recycling.

The portfolio includes two liquid filling units—with peristaltic pump or rotary piston pump—and stopper placing and crimping systems for vials and syringes.

Off-the-Shelf Servo-Driven Benchtop Filling and Stoppering

At Healthcare Packaging EXPO Las Vegas 2021, groninger highlighted its LABWORX benchtop machine portfolio, comprising small-batch liquid modules with short lead times and quick turnaround.

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unPACKed Podcast: Revisit Cobots, Cannabis and More from PACK EXPO Las Vegas

PMMI Media Group Editors discuss the trends and innovations that drove PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO.

Boehringer Ingelheim - Aservo EquiHaler

Pharmapack Europe 2021 Award Winners Announced

The Pharmapack Awards celebrate the latest innovations in connected devices, wearables, packaging, sustainability, eco-design, patient-centric design, and animal health. Scroll through the gallery to see the winners.

More in Home

Women, E-comm, and Collaborative Tech Shape a New Way of Working

An expert panel at the Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network discussed women and remote work, as well as solutions for adapting to pandemic-era consumer buying trends. Read, watch, or listen to the conversation.

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Quotables and By the Numbers: Oct. 2021

Quotes and stats in healthcare packaging and logistics, from the MedAccred program to robotics innovation and more...

From the Wiliot Cloud, information can be accessed and analyzed by brands, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to make more informed decisions along the supply chain.

Wiliot Debuts its “Sensing as a Service” Platform

Wiliot showcased its platform and IoT Pixel technology at PACK EXPO Las Vegas that brings actionable intelligence to reusable packaging in support of more sustainable, transparent supply chains.

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The Need for Diagnostics Packaging Innovation

Demand for diagnostics has been soaring—particularly in light of COVID-19. How are diagnostics and packaging suppliers meeting technical challenges? Watch this Take Five video to find out.

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Beckhoff Showcases XPlanar Updates

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Beckhoff highlighted is XPlanar materials handling system that uses levitating movers to transport materials for packaging, assembly or transfer.

Chris Walsh, CEO and Founding Editor at MJBiz

Considering Cannabis Packaging?

There are a few things to consider when moving into cannabis packaging. Read what this exploding market requires, and where it’s headed.

NJM’s Trotter 127 labeler can apply wraparound, front-and-back and 3-, 4- and 5-panel labels to round, square, rectangular, and oval bottles.

21st Century HealthCare Increases Output for Tablets, Capsules and Softgels

The new NJM beltorque BT-ICL Lite capper, along with machines from Cremer, Enercon, and more, comprise a line that offers 25% more uptime than existing lines. The technology offers precision cap placement and torque, even for child resistant caps.

1912: James T. Greely invented the first real disposable syringes and patented their design in 1912. Merck legacy company H.K. Mulford used his patented technology for their Mulford Hypo-Units ready-to-use, sterile disposable syringes. They became ideal for use on the battlefield during World War I. (Credit: Merck Historical Archives)

A Walk Down 'Life Science Packaging' Memory Lane at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

In pictures: If you missed the PACK to the Future exhibit at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, scroll through for a look at some of the life sciences moments on display.

The machine’s recipe approach allows operators to easily adjust specs to different flower strains through compacting and twisting to produce consistent shape with uniform density.

Feeder Plays Integral Role in Automated Pre-Roll Cannabis Equipment

Just as it is affecting many other verticals, a tight labor market is also impacting the emerging cannabis industry, especially in typically manual processes like pre-roll production. Lately, automation is becoming more sophisticated to fill the gap.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021 Technology Excellence Awards Winners Unveiled

Chosen by a panelist of packaging professionals and voted on by show attendees, winners include a new can-end design, an innovative roll-fed labeler, and an HPP bulk beverage technology.

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Why Your Peers Came to PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021 (and Why You Should Too!)

Watch interviews with PACK EXPO Las Vegas attendees on what they came to find and what they discovered at the largest comprehensive packaging and processing event in the world this year.

AccuPierce pierceable foil lidding is a composite material designed to support diagnostics packaging.

Pierceable Foil Lidding Offers High Barrier for Diagnostic Accuracy

AccuPierce allows for a clean, quick puncture in sensitive testing environments. It is able to contain the often-aggressive chemicals used as reagents and will seal to a wide variety of materials.