MWV and Walmart to partner on medication adherence

- New packaging designed to meet patients and pharmacist needs

 

MeadWestvaco (MWV) is to launch its new Shellpak Renew pharmaceutical packaging through 3,600 Walmart pharmacies this summer.

 

Shellpak Renew is designed to meet patient and pharmacist needs, and features a tear-resistant, recyclable outer carton coupled with easy-slide blister packaging and an integrated calendar for patients to track their medications.

 

MWV said the development of Shellpak Renew is part of its commitment to further awareness and solutions for poor medication adherence.

 

The company recently acquired Aardex Group, a pioneer in the design and use of electronic medication event monitoring systems and applications designed to measure, analyze, and manage patient adherence in clinical drug trials.

 

In announcing Shellpak Renew and its introduction through Walmart pharmacies, MWV said research shows that half of all patients in the US today do not take their medicines as prescribed.

 

Poor medication adherence can lead to worsening of disease, serious and avoidable health risks, increased hospitalizations and even death, it said. The annual cost of non-adherence in the US is estimated to be $290 billion, representing 13 percent of total healthcare expenditures.

 

John Grinnell, vice president and managing director of MWV Healthcare’s secondary and adherence packaging division, said: ‘Among the many adherence solutions that are available to help patients take their medications as prescribed, medication packaging may be uniquely effective as one of the last opportunities to educate patients about how to take their medications safely and effectively.’

 

Sandy Kinsey, vice president of pharmacy merchandising at Walmart Stores, added: ‘Medications prepackaged in Shellpak Renew make dispensing medications quicker and easier so that our pharmacists can spend more time counseling our patients, including providing instructions on how to take their medications.

 

‘In addition, the calendarized packaging helps reinforce to our customers how to take their medications safely and effectively for the best outcome.’

 

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