HERMES PHARMA develops user-friendly stick pack that safeguards children while ensuring easy access for adults
Patient-centric innovation is transforming pharmaceutical packaging, focusing on meeting diverse user needs while upholding the highest safety standards. Today’s consumers and patients demand medications that integrate seamlessly into daily life, driving the need for convenience which includes intuitive, portable packaging. At the same time as making packaging accessible and easy to use, child safety remains paramount.
Balancing these factors is a challenge for the healthcare industry. Discover how our innovative stick pack technology is redefining convenience and safety.
The rising popularity of stick packs
Stick packs are ideally suited to modern healthcare demands, offering water-free administration of orally disintegrating granules (ODGs). As daily routines become increasingly fast-paced, consumers seek medication that is quick, convenient, and easy to take — at home, at work, or on-the-go.
A cut above: stick pack innovation
Named for their sleek profile, stick packs are designed for optimal performance. At HERMES PHARMA, we use laminated aluminium PET foil and a precision-engineered laser-cut opening mechanism that ensures ease of use — but only for adults.
Key benefits of HERMES PHARMA stick packs:
- Portability – A slim design that fits easily in pockets or bags, making medication more accessible on the go.
- Content protection – The laminated aluminium PET foil shields the contents from light and moisture, preserving product integrity.
- Pre-dosed delivery – Each stick pack contains an exact dose, ensuring accurate medication intake without measurement errors.
- Water-free administration – The orally disintegrating granules dissolve quickly in the mouth, eliminating the need for water.
- Child-resistant yet senior-friendly – The innovative laser-cut design prevents children from opening the pack while it remains accessible to adults.
Child safety: a non-negotiable priority
Ease of use is essential, particularly for elderly individuals and those with limited dexterity. However, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals must remain inaccessible to children, as even small amounts of accidental ingestion can be harmful.
Since the introduction of child-resistant packaging in the 1970s, accidental ingestion rates among children under five have significantly declined. To maintain this progress, international safety standards such as ISO 14375 and US 16 CFR § 1700.20 provide strict guidelines for packaging design and testing. These regulations ensure that while packaging remains difficult for young children to open, it continues to be user-friendly for adults, particularly seniors.
Proven performance: balancing safety and accessibility
Ensuring both child safety and adult accessibility in pharmaceutical packaging is a complex challenge. Independent testing by VerpackungsMarktforschung (ivm) GmbH confirmed that our stick packs achieve this balance:
- In rigorous trials, 100% of children were unable to open the specially designed laser-cut packs, exceeding international safety standards for child resistance.
- 100% of adult participants, including seniors, successfully opened the packaging with ease, demonstrating accessibility and quick adaptability.
Want to read more?
In the following article published by Contract Pharma, Dr. Markus Elfinger, Senior Director of Business Development, Account Management & Marketing, and Dr. David Kuch, Senior Director of Development & Drug Regulatory Affairs at HERMES PHARMA, discuss:
- The international safety standards shaping modern pharmaceutical packaging.
- The testing methods used to evaluate child safety in our innovative stick pack design.
- How stick packs support current trends in patient-centric pharmaceutical and nutraceutical delivery.