Protecting both companion animal health and the animal protein food supply are part of the reasons why the animal medicine market is growing, and packaging is on the front line.
Packaging for veterinary pharmacuticals can be challenging, David Weill, CEO of Primequal SA, explained during Pharmapack Europe.
One of those reasons is because unlike in the human health sector, sometimes the end user, while qualified to give the medicine, is not a trained healthcare professional.
"Giving medicine to a cat in the kitchen is not the same as giving it to animals in a field," he explained, relaying a story of a person who had to run after an animal before even being able to give it the medicine.
Although the thought of a veterinarian or farmer chasing a cow through field with a tube of medicine held between their teeth as to free their hands, allowing them to wrangle said animal, may be cartoonishly funny, it is the reality of what happens many times – and all of the potential of things that could go wrong.
This is one of the reasons why innovation in this area is critical.
As a result, Weill explained, there is a race to create medical devices that more easily deliver the medication, and much more user friendly.
Pre-filled, multiple delivery devices that are easy to use and allow no contact to the operator with the protect being delivered is really the goal.
"Simple, fast delivery," said Weill.
There is also a shift from big packaging to more precise and compact, to also help reduce product wastage, which he explained is a problem with animal medicine.
