Ensuring That Product Labels Are Easily Understood

Drug labeling has become a key issue in the pharmaceutical industry. Mislabeling has frequently led to providers prescribing the wrong medications to their patients. In an interview with Pharm Exec, Laura Johnson, senior director, sales, life sciences, Loftware, discussed key challenges of drug labeling, ensuring that labels are easily understood, unclear labeling, and the role of digital passports.

PE: How do you ensure that product labels are easily understood by healthcare professionals and patients alike?

Johnson: My personal opinion is that the labels need to be very simple from the standpoint of color coding and highlighting different information that should be looked at closely, such as allergens or reactions. I think there's a little bit of a challenge where a manufacturer puts a lot of information, time, and effort into the product label that appears on the packaged good. When it comes to a pharmacy in the United States, it's taken out of that primary packaging and put into an amber vial. When that is distributed to a patient, a lot of that content is often missed or discarded. So, it is a challenge. In my mind, it's a gap between how we produce the information on the primary packaging versus what the patient actually walks out of the pharmacy with and into their home. Keeping that data and that information aligned is a big challenge.

Full Interview Summary: The pharmaceutical industry faces significant challenges regarding drug labeling, with mislabeling or misunderstood labeling potentially leading to serious consequences, such as injuries or hospitalizations. One key issue is patient comprehension, especially for those with low health literacy. Many patients may not fully understand the purpose of their prescriptions, potential interactions, or adverse effects, especially when dealing with multiple medications. This highlights the importance of clear, comprehensive labeling that goes beyond the physical bottle to include all necessary prescribing information, warnings, and adverse effect details. However, this information is often overlooked, leading to gaps in patient understanding and safety. A major challenge arises from the disconnect between manufacturer labeling and what patients receive at pharmacies, particularly when medications are repackaged. Inconsistent transfer of important information, such as expiration dates or allergens, can cause confusion and even lead to medications being discarded, as happened with certain COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. Innovations in labeling, such as electronic labeling (e-labeling), present opportunities to improve patient outcomes. With technologies like barcodes or QR codes, patients and caregivers can access detailed information online, which ensures the most up-to-date data is available. Additionally, digital passports are seen as a promising tool for tracking a drug's lifecycle, ensuring compliance, and preventing counterfeit medications. While the implementation of such digital solutions is still evolving, their potential to enhance traceability and safety in drug administration is substantial, particularly in regulatory compliance and security.