RICHMOND, Va. — MeadWestvaco (MWV) Corp. has introduced Shellpak Renew with Optilock technology, which the company called the smallest, child-resistant adherence medication packaging on the market.

MWV said Thursday that the compact smaller, more discreet package is designed to meet patient and pharmacist needs by enabling greater patient portability and improving pharmacy efficiency.

The new package contains enhanced adherence features, such as a smooth-slide blister for easy access and color-coded spine labels to help distinguish among medications.

The package sports an advanced locking mechanism for the highest level of child resistance, and it’s 23% smaller than the original Shellpak Renew while still accommodating the same medications.

Plans call for the new package to launch at Walmart pharmacies this summer with medications from Mylan Inc. Additional medications will follow later this year through MWV.

"Walmart is committed to developing scalable, accessible solutions to improve patient adherence to medication," Sandy Kinsey, vice president of pharmacy merchandising at Walmart, said in a statement. "We are proud to offer Shellpak Renew with Optilock technology and are excited about the new, smaller package size, which many of our patients requested."

Shellpak Renew with Optilock technology features a calendared blister and space for patient educational information, which is shown to improve patient adherence to medications, according to MWV. The decreased package size provides a more convenient way for patients to access and carry their medications while also making dispensing medications quicker and easier for pharmacists, the company said.

Mylan Pharmaceuticals is working with Walmart to offer 11 SKUs packaged in the new Shellpak Renew with Optilock technology and plans to launch additional SKUs in the future, MWV reported.

"Mylan is pleased to support the launch of Shellpak Renew with Optilock technology," stated Tony Mauro, president of Mylan North America. "This partnership aligns with our goal to set new standards in health care and expand access to high-quality medicines, as the new packaging presentation encourages patient adherence and convenience while increasing efficiencies inside pharmacies."

The Shellpak Renew with Optilock package’s outer carton is made of MWV’s Natralock, a paperboard-based packaging solution that maximizes the use of recyclable materials and minimizes waste, MWV said. The secure, tear-resistant carton doesn’t require paper backing on the foil blister, making pill expression easy. Also, the package contains enhanced medication adherence features, including a smooth-slide blister for easy access and color-coded spine labels to help distinguish among medications.

"At MWV, our design mandate is to develop packaging that is not only child-resistant but also convenient for patients," commented Hung Le, vice president of global design for MWV. "Shellpak Renew with Optilock technology was designed using insights from both our customers and consumers regarding the importance of efficiency and convenience."