Interview with Dr. Nadine K. Lampka, Senior Product Manager, Pharma-Security - Schreiner MediPharm,

I started my career in security inks, building a new business unit where I combined product development with market creation and key-account work. Today, as Senior Product Manager Pharma-Security at Schreiner MediPharm, I focus on tamper-evidence, anti-counterfeiting, and digital authentication solutions in pharma packaging. I actively drive innovation through cross-functional collaboration and partnerships with key stakeholders across the packaging value chain. I advise global clients on security strategies and lead product development from concept to commercialization. As a frequent conference speaker and industry advocate, I contribute to international consortia and committees such as Rx360, Alliance to Zero, and DIN, and have co-authored numerous publications and patents. Passionate about emerging technologies, storytelling and industry education, I am a trusted voice on pharma security, holistic drug protection guidance and patient safety.

Rising pharmaceutical crime & low maturity of brand protection 

I see pharmaceutical crime—counterfeiting, diversion, and component reuse—growing rapidly as supply chains globalize and technology evolves, used to mimic packaging components. Yet many companies still underestimate these risks, and brand protection remains a young discipline. Therefore in my role as a senior product manager pharma-security I raise awareness of emerging security risks and advise pharma partners on how to strengthen their brand-protection strategies. Both, packaging and pharma industry have to cooperate to be a step ahead of the criminals.

Decarbonizing packaging without compromising safety

The pressure to reduce materials, emissions, and packaging footprint is intense, but must never jeopardize integrity, safety or regulatory compliance. Achieving safe decarbonization requires tight alignment across materials, converters, device makers, and pharma to ensure new concepts do not introduce risk.

Price pressure vs. rising expectations

Pharma and supplier industry companies face massive cost pressure. Yet expectations for sustainability, security, and resilient supply chains continue to rise. We as a packaging supplier have to balance these opposing forces—delivering robust, future-proof solutions while keeping cost efficiency and qualification effort in mind.

I’m particularly excited about combining digital security technologies with label-integrated first-opening indication. This fusion creates strong item-level trust anchors that make every package both tamper-evident and digitally verifiable. It enables secure smartphone-based authentication, improves supply-chain visibility, and helps prevent counterfeiting, diversion, and component reuse far more effectively. For me, this intersection of physical and digital protection is one of the most impactful innovations shaping the future of pharma packaging.

• Patient and product safety first—Holistic security approach and intuitive, convenient use of final product;
• Evidence over assumption—co-create with hospitals and users to validate real-world routines;
• Sustainability with purpose—apply eco-design principles and carefully choose materials and design with respect to their value they add to function.

Brand owners juggle global threat variability (counterfeits, reuse, diversion), regulatory complexity, cost pressure, more sensitive drug products and an increasingly demanding end-user. They need modular, validated solutions that enhance product value without adding burden or cost to the processes and products.

Over the next five years, packaging will become more connected and sustainability-driven, moving beyond purely physical protection. Digital features will increasingly enable verification and better supply-chain visibility.

 Environmentally, the focus will shift to leaner, lower-impact designs that cut materials and support circularity across materials and logistics. 

Socially, healthcare professionals and patients will expect packaging that is intuitive, informative, and verifiable, and collaboration across the value chain will intensify.

As part of the Alliance to Zero, we help drive cross-industry collaboration to reduce packaging footprint. We also enable label solutions with sustainable materials, while maintaining performance and patient safety. In parallel, we apply eco-design principles to labels so customers can move toward leaner, more circular packaging concepts

My husband has been the quiet force behind my journey—guiding me to trust in my own strength, to silence doubt, and to keep my eyes and heart set on what truly matters.

I start with green tea and a nourishing porridge with fresh fruit. A bike ride to kindergarten with my youngest brings me up to speed. Then coffee after my first meeting—resetting with small yoga stretches and a quick check on the chickens to keep body, mind, and thoughts in motion.

The impact of my work on patient safety, together with the outstanding colleagues and partners I collaborate with, keeps me motivated and inspired.