Pharmaceutical Repackagers: The Basics

Today, more than ever before, it is easier for consumers to reach for their computer, Smartphone or tablet before making purchasing decisions.  Consumers can (and do) conduct research online to learn about such issues as what is driving up the cost of health care and prescription drugs.    Now patients simply peruse the Internet to select healthcare providers, look up information about side effects of brand name and generic drugs and research how pharmaceutical companies across the supply chain deal with quality assurance concerns.

In the next few months, American consumers will again make vital decisions about health care.  Many will spend hours online researching primary care doctors and healthcare providers, examining health care insurance policies.  From employees to business owners, the rising cost of heath care and prescription drugs has most Americans concerned and interested in learning how costs can be kept under control. 

If you are like most consumers, you may not be aware of the vital role that drug repackagers play in the pharmaceutical supply chain. 

As patients, consumers are prescribed medications which are filled by pharmacies and the drugs are dispensed without a thought to how it all happens.

Whether a patient is dispensed medication from a doctor, hospital, pharmacy, rehab or nursing care facility or other institution, the medication may have originally been packaged in large quantities, rather than individual doses.  Increased concerns regarding the quality and cost of healthcare as well as concerns about patient safety have ramped up the need for more unit-dose medications.

Here is a brief look at one type of pharmaceutical supply chain industry operation that helps reduce cost, improve patient safety and the accuracy of drug dose dispensation.

What is a Pharmaceutical Repackager?

Many medications are packaged in large quantities by drug manufacturers.  In general, a pharmaceutical repackager purchases medications wholesale, often generic drugs, then repackages them into smaller quantities for sale to doctors.  Doctors then sell the repackaged drug products in their offices.  Repackaged medications are also sold to pharmaceutical distributors, hospitals or other pharmacies.

According to the FDA, pharmaceutical repackaging is “the act of removing a preparation from its original primary container and placing it into another primary container, usually of smaller size.”  Pharmacies commonly repackage preparations into unit-dose configurations for patients.  In this blog, we are specifically including information on commercial pharmaceutical repackaging organizations.

Commercial repackaging companies repackage drug product preparations for distribution.  This can mean that the drug products are for resale to hospitals, distributors or other pharmacies. Repackaging firms that are FDA-registered regularly receive drugs from hospitals and clinics which are then repackaged into unit-dose packages.  This facilitates accurate dispensation of doses to patients and is more convenient for healthcare providers.  Operating with a higher level of scrutiny, control, security and quality control, regulated repackagers accomplish the same tasks as other facilities but incur more cost.  Because of this, regulated repackagers charge accordingly to maintain a level of profitability.  Repackagers are regulated in a very similar manner to how the FDA regulates the packaging operations of the original prescription drug manufacturers.

Good Repackaging Practices

The FDA conducts a thurough drug application review and approval process during which the container closure system and drug packaging are evaluated as well as the conditions under which the drug will be packaged are carefully considered.  This is done as these factors can impact the quality of the drug product.  Quality assurance is always a primary concern for repackagers.

Pharmaceutical Repackagers and FDA Compliance Issues

Pharmaceutical repackagers should never alter the drug product itself in any way.  The repackager may not change the dosage form, dilute the product, mix the product with other solutions, substances, chemicals, etc.

Conclusion

The pharmaceutical supply chain is complicated.  Since approximately 2006, drug repackagers have made an impact on the pharmaceutical industry, helping to reduce costs and enhance patient safety.  As many medications are not packaged by the original manufacturer in unit doses or are produced and packaged in bulk, a need for repackaging medications arose.  Repackaging prescription drug products helps to reduce medication errors, increasing the safety of patients and the quality of drug products.  The overall effect of pharma repackaging is positive, lowering costs and resulting in greater efficiencies in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

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