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Schreiner MediPharm, a developer and manufacturer of functional labels for the healthcare industry, has collaborated with CDMO OECHSLERhealth to introduce a novel solution providing analog and digital first-opening indication for vials. Cap-Lock for Vials addresses key challenges concerning product integrity, patient safety, and primary packaging digitalization.
Primary container integrity is a critical aspect to pharmaceutical supply chain security. With vials, flip-off caps can offer limited tampering detection; meanwhile, there is growing demand for digital solutions suitable for automating processes along the supply chain, which improves transparency among other benefits.
Cap-Lock for Vials addresses such needs through the combined expertise of Schreiner MediPharm and OECHSLERhealth, a global industrialization partner for medical devices. Schreiner MediPharm’s Cap-Lock Label incorporates a special design with irreversible first-opening indication, while a plastic cap designed by OECHSLERhealth is placed atop the closed vial and permanently interlocks with the flip-off cap. Label application is simple, since the cap and vial have the same diameter. When opening the vial, the Cap-Lock Label is irreversibly destroyed, making the first opening clearly visible and undetected cap reapplication impossible.
In addition to its analog security functionality, Cap-Lock for Vials provides a variety of digital options. A label-integrated RFID chip enables digital first-opening indication and tracking of individual vials at unit level. As a result, previously opened containers can be automatically recognized, and medication management processes at hospitals and other healthcare settings can be efficiently supported. Moreover, the integration of an NFC functionality enables easy digital smartphone-based authentication—an important contribution to product and brand protection.
Cap-Lock for Vials is adaptable to all commonly used vial sizes, and supports pharmaceutical manufacturers in reliably protecting the integrity of their products from initial filling through patient administration. The combination of clear first-opening indication and digital functionality exhibits how analog security and digital added value can complement one another to bolster product integrity, transparency, and automation along the pharma supply chain.
