Packaging technology in the pharmaceutical industry

Qualification goals

The lecture "Packaging technology in the pharmaceutical industry" is part of the module: "Quality control, hygienic design and packaging technology".

The primary (e.g. tubes, blisters, ampoules) and secondary packaging (e.g. cardboard boxes) of pharmaceutical products are closely related to their production and are an integrated part of the value-added process.
Packaging processes are associated with a high risk due to the large number of quality and safety-critical influences. These include the complex mechanics of the systems, the variety of products and packaging variants, as well as the correct attachment of variable data and the necessary measures to prevent counterfeiting.

Containment includes both product and personal protection. Highly active and sensitive products are increasingly being used in the pharmaceutical sector. On the one hand, this requires new, more complex packaging materials and their processing on suitably designed equipment, but on the other hand, personal and product protection during packaging must also be taken into account.convenience means user-friendliness. The competition is particularly fierce in the area of over-the-counter products; a user-friendly form (also with regard to child safety, seniors' friendliness or dosage form for chronically ill patients) can be decisive for the market.counterfeit protection is particularly important for special preparations (cancer drugs etc.). The originality of the drug must be protected in order to guarantee effective action; counterfeiters and fraudsters are stopped by track and trace, RFID identification, design solutions, etc.

After completing this module, students will have mastered the most important basics about the different types of primary and secondary packaging in the pharmaceutical industry. They learn the legal principles and requirements for pharmaceutical packaging with regard to quality assurance. By looking at clear examples, the students are able to understand the complex process chain, taking into account the implementation of the above requirements, and have mastered the essential knowledge to implement them.