Locking blister pack for prenatal vitamins is tough for kids to open but easy on expectant moms

An innovative child-resistant packaging design for prenatal vitamins is protecting children from ingesting the iron-containing products while at the same time making it easier for expectant mothers to stay on schedule with their vitamins. The new pharmaceutical packaging, a blister pack with locking mechanism, was developed by a multidisciplinary team led by TherapeuticsMD Inc.

Adults can easily overcome the package’s CR feature. They simply squeeze and hold the sides of the sleeve, slide out the pill pack and press a capsule through the foil. Graphics printed on the sleeve use text instructions and illustrations to show consumers how to open the package.

TherapeuticsMD is the parent company of vitaMedMD LLC and BocaGreenMD Inc.; vitaMedMD is using the new packaging for its vitaPearl brand of prenatal multivitamins, and BocaGreenMD is using it for Prena1 Pearl, a generic prenatal multivitamin.

Because the products contain iron—both are formulated with 30 mg of a chelate-containing iron—the packaging was designed with child-resistance rating of F=1.

Jason Spitz, vp, marketing and corporate communications, TherapeuticsMD, answers some questions about the new packaging.

How does this package design encourage women to take their prenatal vitamins?

Spitz: The new packaging provides an alternative to more traditional paper/foil-backed blisters that are difficult to open. Due to the iron in many prenatal vitamins, packaging must meet F=1 child-safety packaging requirements. Our new package is child-resistant while making it easier for expectant moms to use. We believe the 30-day single foil blister may also increase patient adherence compared to multiple foil blisters in our old packaging and most competitors’ packaging.

Why did you pick this particular package format?

Spitz: It’s easier for patients and reduced the frustration of opening paper-backed blisters.

Did TherapeuticsMD design this package in-house?

Spitz: The graphic design/labeling of the packaging was completed in-house by TherapeuticsMD. The physical design of the carton was conceptualized internally but created by our contract manufacturer in conjunction with a packaging vendor—truly a team effort to develop and implement.

Are vitaPearl and Prena1 Pearl new products? If not, how were they packaged before?

Spitz: They were packaged in traditional paper/foil-backed blisters, where the paper must first be peeled off before pushing the softgel through the foil.