Ready Advances in Aseptic Filling

A new system comprising ready-to-fill pharmaceutical vials eliminates the need for vial cleaning prior to filling, allowing drug manufacturers to cost-effectively simplify filling programs while ensuring sterility.

To demonstrate the concept, Aseptic Technologies, a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSKb), is using a self-built filling line at its Gembloux, Belgium, facility. The Crystal Closed Vial Filling Line (CVFL) is designed to fill cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) vials supplied with thermoplastic elastomer stoppers in place. ISPE (the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering) has recognized Aseptic Technologies with a 2009 Facility of the Year Award in the Equipment Innovation category.

Aseptic Technologies will be operating the CVFL as a GMP-compliant contract packaging line at its facility; also offered are line development, installation, and validation services for drug companies’ own facilities. The Belgium line was developed with “quality-by-design” principles in mind, the company reports. continued

New Clinical Trial Packs Presented at Pharmapack

At Pharmapack 2009 in Paris, Körber Medipak Group introduced a new concept for clinical trial packaging. Building on its NeoWallet packaging platform, Körber can design a fully modular line for robotically feeding its high-speed walleting system with prepackaged blister strips, explained CEO Gehrard Breu. continued

“The trends in clinical trials these days are for more active drugs, in higher volumes,” Breu told the audience. “Traditional blister packaging, with up to four products fed into one blister, is difficult to control.”

New Effervescent Package Fits Patients Needs

The Handy Active Tube (HAT) developed by Süd-Chemie’s Healthcare Packaging division has been awarded the Pharmapack 2009 “Safe-Use Product” Award. The award-winning HAT-Snap pharmaceutical package was adopted by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) for Efferalgan 1G, an effervescent analgesic sold principally in Europe.

BMS sought to improve medication compliance for arthritic patients who often have difficulties using traditional forms of packaging. The patented injection-molded polyethylene flip-top closure was therefore customized for BMS to include particular ergonomic features and an embossed logo. The closure includes a break-away tamper-evident ring, as well as an integrated desiccant to protect the product from moisture and enhance shelf life. continued