Stora Enso Consumer Board
FIN-55800 IMATRA, Finland
Tel. +358 2046 121
Fax +358 2046 24716
PRESS RELEASE
7th November 2007
Stora Enso Pharma DDSi - for ultimate compliance
Stora Enso is bringing to market a ground-breaking intelligent packaging solution for pharmaceuticals. Stora Enso Pharma DDSi is a compliance-monitoring solution based on a new carton with an embedded microchip. The solution is supported by Stora Enso's PackAgent software, which enables compliance monitoring as well as authentication, tracking and tracing of products.
"Stora Enso is the first company in the world to use Cypak's new single microchip solution in pharmaceuticals packaging. The solution enables low-cost, high-volume applications, which will open the way for global use of intelligent pharmaceutical cartons," says Ismo Saarinen, Director, Stora Enso Pharmaceutical Solutions. "Current solutions in the market are based on large electronic modules and have only been used for small-volume pilots."
Stora Enso Pharma DDSi records the precise date, time and which pill is removed from the package. By pressing an answer key embedded in the carton, the patient can record how he or she feels and responds to the medical treatment. The carton can have a beeper to remind the patient about the medication. The solution is compatible with the latest mobile technology, which enables such functions as an electronic diary of medication or SMS reminder. The Pharma DDSi solution includes a reader that converts the data from the carton to the PC. The reader has been designed to fit the package precisely, which makes it very easy to use.
Compliance saves lives and money
Effective compliance monitoring is in demand for several reasons.
Optimal medication is a great concern for the patient and his or her doctor. The patient's compliance with the doctor's prescription is the basic prerequisite for effective medication. Human lives are lost or endangered due to non-compliance and billions of dollars are spent on treatment in vain. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies face the challenge of proving the drug's efficacy in order to extend its life-cycle and to maintain its market position. New solutions are needed to monitor compliance effectively and economically. According to Ismo Saarinen, Pharma DDSi will probably be used first in a clinical trial or for a package improvement of a drug that requires high compliance and compliance monitoring.
Stora Enso has developed the PackAgent Compliance monitoring software for tracking and tracing the packages, capturing the compliance data and sharing the data with the relevant parties. Together with item-level product identification, the software can be used for product authentication, tracking and tracing. PackAgent determines product authentication and generates a tracking history that can be used for an electronic pedigree. The solution has been piloted in the pharmaceutical industry.
Going mobile
Pharma DDSi is based on the use of Near Field Communication or NFC, a two-way communication technology based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). NFC enables wireless communication between devices over a short distance. The technology is primarily used in mobile phones and it is compatible with the existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation and payment. The next step in this development is to use mobile phones to support compliance monitoring.
Stora Enso cooperates with Nokia for the development of mobile compliance-monitoring solutions.
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For further information:
Stora Enso Consumer Board
Ismo Saarinen, Director, Pharmaceutical Solutions
Tel. +358 2046 22181
Stora Enso Consumer Board
Sanna Heiskanen, Marketing Communications Specialist
Tel. +358 2046 23440
Email sanna.heiskanen@storaenso.com
