Momentive Technologies accelerates drug formulations with “ultra-pure” quartz vials in Stevanato EZ-fill format

14 Oct 2020 --- Momentive Technologies’ Pur Q fused quartz vials for pharmaceutical packaging will be supplied in Italian glass pharmaceutical packaging company Stevanato Group’s EZ-fill format.

Combined, the new offerings will help biopharmaceutical companies improve the reliability and commercialization of life-saving medications via highly stable primary packaging and an efficient secondary packaging method.

“Pharma companies can use SG EZ-fill format from early-stage drug formulations and scale up to full production, without changing the container or filling process,” Fabio Bertacchini, director of product management at Stevanato Group, tells PackagingInsights.

“By separating all containers in the secondary packaging, SG EZ-fill provides maximum integrity of the container during transportation and in buffering/in-feeding operations, minimizing glass-to-glass contact and mitigating risk of breakages.”

Due to the vials’ highly inert properties, biopharmaceutical companies can confidently “take the container out of the equation” when assessing the viability of formulations. This can assist in accelerating the development of increasingly complex and sensitive biologic drug formulations.

“Ultra-pure” silicon dioxide
Made from 99.99 percent pure silicon dioxide without any additives found in standard pharmaceutical vials, the Pur Q vials have a non-reactive surface that can eliminate the risk of interaction with packaged drug formulations.

”This is a significant advantage for many of the sensitive biologic drugs in development today, which could be damaged through unexpected interactions with impurities in conventional glass,” Robert Koch, global commercial director at Momentive Technologies, shares with PackagingInsights.

Lacking sustainability qualities – for a reason
Even though the fused quartz material could technically be recycled, all used vials in pharmaceutical applications must “unfortunately” be disposed of as hazardous waste, says Koch.

Pur Q fused quartz vials feature a non-reactive surface that can reduce interaction with packaged drug formulations for stable, long-term storage.“The drugs could be toxic, from chemotherapy treatments, for example, or the vials can become contaminated with bloodborne pathogens.”

However, Bertacchini points out that there is “increasing attention” to reducing the environmental impact and, on sustainability as a whole, even if the drug containers themselves can’t be recycled. 

“We also see trends linked to enhancing patient safety and adherence to therapies and the need to increase efficiency in the pharma manufacturing process.” 

Enhanced safety and efficiency are addressed by the EZ-fill solution. As a pre-sterilized solution, it can help optimize investments and increase drug product quality and safety, according to Bertacchini.

Innovative pharma packaging 
The quest for a vaccine for the current coronavirus has spotlighted the importance of pharmaceutical packaging.

In July, Stevanato secured a deal to supply 100 million Type 1 Borosilicate glass vials to package up to two billion COVID-19 vaccines. Once a vaccine is proven to be safe and effective, Stevanato’s glass vials will store 20 doses per vial, equating to two billion vaccines.

According to an ad hoc survey conducted by Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie in April, 50 percent of surveyed pharmaceutical companies reported increases in orders and call-offs. 

This was followed by Klöckner Pentaplast’s facility expansion in Cotia, Brazil, in May, to “support the rapidly growing” South American pharmaceutical market.

By Anni Schleicher