To counteract illegal trade in empty pharmaceutical glass containers that have been disposed of as waste, Schreiner MediPharm has now provided its Pharma-Comb label with integrated covert messages as a further development of this proven product. The Pharma-Comb Void label clearly indicates that the vial has been opened and prevents ineffective substitutes that pose a health risk to patients from being filled into original containers. Used glass containers marked with conventional labels can be refilled and sold as "original" products unnoticed. Even security features such as holograms or color-shifting effects offer no protection against this form of tampering. Therefore, Schreiner MediPharm has developed a marking solution that avoids unnoticed re-utilization of vials. The Pharma-Comb Void label is a multi-part product label which is destroyed by the first user. This effect is achieved by pulling off the strip that tears open the label and also encloses the vials cap. Two void messages, Opened and Used, then appear in two indicator fields. Consequently, it is not possible to re-use the vial with the original label for trade in ineffective substitutes. The development of the new Pharma-Comb Void label was also focused on handling efficiency and convenience in healthcare practice. After the label has been opened, an additional, self-lifting label part is exposed which the physician or nurse can detach to mark the syringe. The Pharma-Comb Void label provides healthcare professionals with a reliable tool to identify authentic products. The label helps increase pharmaceutical product safety, and systematically protects patients from receiving harmful counterfeit drugs.
