RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MeadWestvaco Corp. (NYSE: MWV), a global leader in packaging and packaging solutions, introduced Dosepak Express® with Optilock® technology, a customizable medication package that enables pharmaceutical companies to develop brand-specific adherence solutions that better fit patients’ lifestyles while also meeting regulatory requirements. MWV’s Dosepak product family offers global manufacturers the unique flexibility to implement this package with or without child-resistance features, depending on applicable regulatory requirements and manufacturer choice.

Dosepak Express with Optilock technology utilizes a new advanced locking mechanism and is 23 percent smaller than the original Dosepak Express. This new smaller package size accommodates the same number and size of pills as the larger package. It is first being introduced at Pharmapack Europe on Feb. 12-13.

“Among the many adherence solutions that are available to help patients take their medications as prescribed, medication packaging is unique because patients interact with it every day of the medication use,” said Bruce Thomas, president, MWV Healthcare. “The billboard space on Dosepak Express with Optilock technology provides a format for patient educational messaging and links to other adherence programs, which can increase opt-ins.”

The development of Dosepak Express with Optilock is part of MWV’s long-standing commitment to further awareness and solutions for poor medication adherence. Research shows that half of all patients in the United States and European Union do not take their medicines as prescribed. Poor medication adherence can lead to worsening of disease, serious and avoidable health risks, increased hospitalizations and even death. The annual cost of nonadherence in the U.S. is estimated to be $317 billion and $125 billion in the EU.

Dosepak Express with Optilock technology is a part of MWV’s suite of proven adherence-enhancing solutions. The package was developed based on insights from medication adherence experts, customers and consumers and is an evolution of the original Dosepak packaging, which has been used extensively in both clinical research as well as in market.

The package contains adherence-enhancing features, including an integrated calendar that allows patients to easily track their medications. The calendared blister stays attached to the outer carton for the duration of the medication regimen, enabling better pill protection as well as a daily opportunity for patient education and brand messaging. The outer carton is made of an environmentally friendly paperboard-based packaging solution that maximizes the use of recyclable materials and minimizes waste.

About MWV

MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV) is a global packaging company providing innovative solutions to the world’s most admired brands in the healthcare, beauty and personal care, food, beverage, home and garden, tobacco, and agricultural industries. The company also produces specialty chemicals for the automotive, energy, and infrastructure industries and maximizes the value of its development land holdings. MWV’s network of 125 facilities and 16,000 employees spans North America, South America, Europe and Asia. The company has been recognized for financial performance and environmental stewardship with a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index every year since 2004. Learn more at mwv.com.