PCI Pharma Services is making an investment in its infrastructure for controlled substances packaging to support the production capacity for blister packaging.
The company has made this decision in line with the recent calls for dispensing opioid prescriptions in limited quantity unit dose packaging to combat substance misuse.
PCI has invested in the extension of onsite controlled substance storage at its US commercial packaging locations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Rockford, Illinois.
The company has dedicated nearly two million square feet of packaging infrastructure at the two locations to support the US DEA Schedule I-V controlled substances for commercial prescription medicines and investigational clinical trials.
It also plans to undertake further expansions following an increase in the demand for specialised requirements and focus on introducing new child-resistant unit dose blister packaging in various formats.
PCI sales and marketing senior vice-president Phil DiGiacomo said: “A critical factor in that narrative is to ensure safety in the home. Opioid packaging demands the highest levels of child resistance.
“PCI is in a unique position to make this specialised packaging immediately available by virtue of our proven, highly automated, high-speed solutions, helping our pharmaceutical clients in their transition to meet the latest legislative requirements.
“These child-resistant packaging solutions protect younger people in the home and provide an adherence platform supporting the user to take medication as prescribed.”
Earlier this month, PCI announced an investment of more than $20m to expand Biotech clinical and commercial packaging as well as release testing capabilities at its centre of excellence in Philadelphia, US.