Citation: Stöcker F, Eon N, “Creating Prefillable Syringes for the Biologics Market”. ONdrugDelivery Magazine, Issue 86 (May 2018), pp 54-56.
Nicolas Eon and Fabian Stöcker discuss syriQ BioPure®, a high-end prefillable syringe for biologics, which integrates seamlessly with autoinjectors and an innovative filling platform that enables small batches and/or different containers to be filled on one line.
Over the last several years, the number of blockbuster drugs in the development pipeline has decreased. Drug companies have largely shifted their research interests towards biopharmaceuticals, protein-based therapies and other large-molecule drugs.
Figure 1: The new syriQ BioPure® syringe for biologics.
As sensitive and complex drugs are often highly viscous, it makes them more difficult to administer. Furthermore, biologic therapies face some constraints when it comes to drug storage, being prone to interactions with the packaging material. Those interactions can limit efficacy and purity, consequently requiring extensive risk analyses and staking tests before regulatory approval.
To tackle these constraints, Schott recently introduced prefillable glass syringes for the biologics market known as syriQ BioPure® (Figure 1). The syringes are designed to keep sensitive drugs stable during their shelf life and shorten time to market while making administration more convenient for patients. To do this, syriQ BioPure® syringes are manufactured under improved processes to lower tungsten and adhesive levels and to ensure a uniform silicone layer – all validated and documented under US FDA regulations.
USE OF HIGH-END MATERIALS
The syringes are made of highly inert Type I FIOLAX® borosilicate glass – the gold standard for packaging complex drug products. The suitability of this glass type for sensitive drugs is well researched and it has a strong track record.
In addition, the rubber plunger stoppers used in syriQ BioPure® syringes are made of the newest polymers to limit interaction with elastomer-coating compounds. The plungers and various closure systems, such as Aptar 4800, Aptar 4900, West 7025 and West 7028, are tailored for sensitive applications. More than 48 combinations have been validated. The use of high-end materials also gives syriQ BioPure® a superior extractables and leachables (E&L) profile. Lastly, the syringes are manufactured using a particularly thorough production method to limit the risk of adhesive residuals in the luer.
SEAMLESS AUTOINJECTOR INTEGRATION
The new glass syringes work with leading safety and autoinjector devices, thus meeting market demand for products that can be administered at home for patients’ convenience. Seamless integration into these devices is achieved thanks to the syringe’s high dimensional accuracy. Each single glass tube used for the manufacture of the syringes is closely inspected by lasers, cameras and infrared systems – a process which is known as Schott’s big data perfeXion™. By collecting roughly 100,000 data tags per minute, the integrated IT system picks up imperfections with such precision that it can later identify the corresponding individual tubes, which can then be discarded.
ADDITIONAL DIMENSIONS
The syringes also have additional dimensions beyond ISO requirements, as well as new geometrical tolerances, which are achieved by cutting-edge forming technology and online inspection systems. This gives the device optimum compatibility, and leads to superior functionality for patients.
The syringes are documented according to the latest design-controlled guidelines (according to FDA 21CFR Part 820) to support the requirements for combination products. As all required documentation is fully available, this means there is a short time-to-market for the pharmaceutical industry.
THE IQ™ PLATFORM CONCEPT
The syringes are delivered in a standard sterilised nest and tub and can be filled on a wide variety of standard, ready-to-use (RTU) filling lines. They are part of Schott’s new iQ™ platform, which is based on the proven nest-and-tub format of RTU syringes that has been used by the pharmaceutical industry for decades. The new platform builds on the advantages of RTU filling concepts by enabling pharma companies to fill small batches and/or different containers on one line (Figure 2).
Figure 2: The iQ™ platform standardises the tub format for cartridges, vials and syringes.
Currently available solutions from packaging suppliers require drug manufacturers to fit the filling machines to the specific tub format, which means the machine needs to be optimised each time to fit the individual products and the same work has to be done multiple times.
Schott addresses this particular issue by standardising ready-to-use syringes, vials and cartridges within a single tub format to run on the same filling line. By standardising this part of the process, less changing of machine parts is necessary when switching from one container to another as the vials, syringes and cartridges all come in the same tub. Consequently, pharma manufacturers can fill various drug and container configurations on the same line with as little as 10–20 minutes of changeover time. They can also switch from one container to another, or one dosage to another, or to new drugs.
AIMS OF THE IQ™ PLATFORM
Maximise Flexibility
The platform was developed with the world’s largest filling line and elastomer component suppliers to simplify the entire filling process and ensure pre-validated and flexible container/elastomer systems can be offered. This further reduces testing efforts, improves quality and accelerates time to market. It comes with a versatile container portfolio including Schott’s syriQ® prefillable syringes and adaptiQ® ready-to-use vials, as well as the new cartriQ™ ready-to-use cartridges, which will be available soon. Moreover, iQ™ is compatible with over 30 machine platforms of all leading and also upcoming machine vendors.
Reduce Complexity
The platform enables pharma companies to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO). A case study has shown that iQ™ decreases the need for format parts. Companies can thus reduce investments by up to 40%, clean room space by up to 60% and running costs by up to 40%. Additionally, when considering that nowadays drugs need to be manufactured in ever-smaller batches in shorter periods while adhering to higher quality standards, the iQ™ standardised tub format increases filling flexibility and greatly reduces complexity. Consequently, pharma companies can accelerate time-to-market and accommodate new drug development.
Enhance Patient Safety
With the highest industry-quality type I glass, FIOLAX®, and the nested configurations, the iQ™ platform eliminates glass-to-glass contact during filling, transport and storage. Thus, the risk of scratches and defects is decreased significantly, which ensures and improves patient safety. Moreover, the particle load is minimised in all of Schott’s RTU containers. Therefore, the platform also provides a solution to various industry concerns, such as glass breakage and particle reduction.
CONCLUSION
By combining the advantages of Schott’s new iQ™ platform and using the highest quality materials in the manufacturing process, syriQ BioPure® syringes are ideally positioned to handle the growing market in sensitive and complex pharmaceutical drugs. In addition, the syringes integrate seamlessly with autoinjectors through the use of Schott’s big data perfeXion™, and time-to-market is reduced through documentation and use of the platform.