Archive for November 1st, 2009

Two exciting NEW websites launched – focused packaging support for pharma companies

Posted in Business News, Design Cognition News, Events, Exhibitions, Healthcare & Pharma on November 1st, 2009 by Chris Penfold – 24 Comments

Design Cognition are pleased to announce the launch of two new websites that will better meet the evolving needs of our pharmaceutical clients and the wider community in the areas of healthcare packaging design, news & compliance.

FIRSTLY, if you are involved in any way with pharmaceutical packaging design, development or managing pack change, our new healthcare-related blog site www.healthcarepackaging-pulse.com will provide you with a daily snapshot of current news & views from the world of pharmaceutical packaging & affiliated areas – from Rx through OTC, Medical Devices and GSL. Learn from the industry ‘best-in class’.

It will cover creative topics such as design, innovation, and technology,through commercial issues such as cost-optimisation and supply chain performance to regulatory and legislative change affecting the industry.

You can follow these healthcare blogs on Twitter at http://twitter.com/healthcare_pack

The SECOND NEW SITE is ‘The Pharma Gateway‘, aimed at pharma companies wanting to launch pharmaceutical products into new markets.

The GLOBAL pharma & consumer landscape is constantly evolving. The packaging requirements of the various regulatory authorities, notified bodies & healthcare professionals have many market-specific local interpretations which will affect pharma packaging design:

  • Structurally – in terms of packaging materials, format & style
  • Graphically – in terms of design layout, logos, claims, symbols & wording

On top of this – generic legislation affects all markets. For instance – did you know that it will be mandatory to display Braille on all EU pharmaceuticals by Oct 2010?

Design Cognition are an independent packaging product design & development contractor and consultancy.  With over 50 years experience working on the Research and Development of products, componentry, devices and packaging in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical device sectors.

We have been involved in hundreds of successful launches of international products – both branded and own label/generics. Acting as an outsourced packaging design and development department: advising and project managing all aspects of pack design and development (both graphic and structural), we can navigate you through the ‘maze’:

  • Saving you time – get to market quicker
  • Cutting your costs – doing it right 1st time
  • Developing your knowledge – through expert support

Find out more here www.thepharmagateway.com

You can also follow postings & updates from The Pharma Gateway on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/pharma_gateway

We hope that you enjoy them and if you are going to AAPS in Los Angeles, November 9th-12th, why not come & visit us at ‘Booth 1962′ to discuss these in more detail? See you there!

Chris Penfold

Braille on pharmaceutical packs – breaking the law?

Posted in Design, Design Cognition News, Events, Exhibitions, Healthcare & Pharma, Legal, Opinion on November 1st, 2009 by Chris Penfold – 16 Comments

It has been mandatory to include Braille on all new EU Marketing Authorisations since 30th October 2005.

According to Article 56(a) of Council Directive 2001/83/EC it will be mandatory to include Braille on ALL EU pharmaceutical packaging by October 2010. This includes pharmaceutical products which were launched prior to October 2005.

Braille must show the name of the medicine and the appropriate strength, where more than one strength is available.

Braille alphabet

Braille alphabet

Support for Braille introduction
At Design Cognition we take the implementation of Braille very seriously. That is why our Chief Technical Officer Annie Dallison volunteered to be a member of The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) working group on Braille standards. Annie, as a leading industry expert, already had over 8 years of experience in the application of Braille on pharmaceutical packaging developing processes and establishing & setting standards for blue chip companies, making her an ideal member of the working group.

CEN working group
This CEN working group is made up of dedicated representatives from the packaging industry, trade associations, regulatory bodies and blind associations from across Europe.

This group has been working for over 3 years to determine and agree standards, including the Braille font style (Marburg medium) and measurement of Braille cell dot height that can be applied across the whole of the EU. One of the main issues for the team has been reaching agreement on the cell dot height that the blind associations feel will be sufficient to meet the needs of the blind users and also industry believe is commercially achievable. The final standard will hopefully be available before October 2010.

If you’d like find out more and how to avoid breaking the law, get your FREE ‘Introduction to Braille’ follow this link:

http://www.thepharmagateway.com/

If you are going to AAPS in Los Angeles, November 9th-12th, why not come & visit us at ‘Booth 1962′ to discuss this in more detail? See you there!

Chris Penfold