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Tubular glass, molded glass, plastic - intelligent syringe systems, high-quality vials and bottles, smart safety and application solutions: the whole world of pharma packaging seems to be united in the Gerresheimer Group at Pharmtech Moscow, and this world is packed with future-oriented technology. Visitors to the trade fair, which is being held at the Crocus Expo Center on November 24 - 27, 2009, are offered by Gerresheimer not only a widely varied and very informative display but also a specialist lecture on trends in glass primary packaging (Pavilion 2, Hall 7, Booth B59).
One of the most important recent developments is without doubt PharmaPlus™. This highly innovative glass forming concept has created a new and outstanding quality category for tubular glass products - whether it be syringes or cartridges, vials or ampoules. "PharmaPlus™ stands for the most precise and gentle production process known today," says Burkhard Lingenberg, Director of Marketing and Communication for the Gerresheimer Group. "With this process chain we have succeeded in achieving a decisive breakthrough since the requirements of modern pharmacy and biotechnology are increasing in many areas and will continue to increase in the future.
The background and outlook in this area are elucidated by Nicolas Alexis, Marketing Director Europe for Gerresheimer Tubular Glass, in an informative lecture on November 26: 'Glass Primary Packaging Trends - Quality, Ease of Use, Materials'. In the course of the Pharmtechprom forum he outlines strong international market trends towards perfected safety and convenience in the delivery of medicines, examines growing demands in terms of the dimensional and cosmetic attributes of glass primary packaging and provides deep insights into the PharmaPlus™ technologies on the basis of the excellent example of syringe production. Last but not least, information about this is provided by a new short video, which is also available to all interested parties on the Internet under http://www.gerresheimer.com/pharmaplusquality.
Syringe systems, particularly the top category of RTF® sterile syringes, are as expected one of the most important areas of product focus in Moscow. In particular, the Ready-to-Fill glass systems which are supplied to the pharma industry siliconised, preassembled and sterilized, comprehensively document the progress achieved today across the field of syringes.
Baked-On RTF™ is one of the results of such progress: this baked-on siliconisation process developed particularly for biopharmaceutics can significantly increase the stability of sensitive active substances in the syringe. Another result is a tiny matrix data field deposited in the glass of the finger flange: scanner-readable identification by means of laser coding reliably documents the type and origin of each and every syringe. Heat transfer printing furthermore allows calibrations, product information, barcodes and brand logos to be clearly distinguished from each other - i.e. in different colors, making them much easier to take in than with the usual monochrome printing. Tailor-made accessories complete the practical safety features: TELC - the tamper-evident Luerlock syringe closure, TERNS - the perfect needle shield with a stable shell and a flexible core made of thermoplastic elastomer, the Backstop with an enlarged finger flange and safety stop for the plunger head, and the Needle Trap acting as a functional label in which the needle can at the same time be secured simply and permanently after use.
Over and above the range of all-glass syringes, Gerresheimer exhibits plastic systems under the Clearject® brand name. The extremely durable syringes with an inert surface consist of crystal-clear COP (Cyclic Olefin Polymer) and are particularly suitable for demanding application areas such as cytostatics and biopharmaceutics. Last but not least, the range is rounded off by really up-to-the-minute glassand- plastic combinations for all aspects of injections: as one of just a few manufacturers in the world Gerresheimer is able in individual customer orders to realize pen systems from A to Z completely in house - including the fully functional plastic systems and the specific glass cartridge perfectly matched in every regard in each case.
In addition, a comprehensive range of high-caliber plastic system packaging is presented by Gerresheimer for other liquid and solid medicines. This wide field ranges from eye droppers to nasal spray bottles and tablet containers and includes a wide spectrum of PETbottles. It is of additional interest because of its outstandingly diverse range of closure solutions, dosage systems and application aids, which mean that not only the plastic range but also glass packaging are increasingly independent of external suppliers. This year the new products with cross-system functionality include for example a series of PP28 caps with dosing cups: these tamperevident closures with click-on dosing cups fit bottles and vials made of PE or PET as well as many which are made of molded glass.
The display is rounded off by the most complete special range of pharmaceutical molded-glass packaging that could be imagined. In addition to the widest possible variety of medicine vials this comprises syrup and dropper bottles, tablet jars, wide-necked jars and technical/chemical glass containers in all relevant shapes and sizes, offers flint and amber glass as well as colored and even opal glass and ranges right up to the chemically most neutral resistance class, namely glass type I. As in the case of tubular glass, Gerresheimer offers here numerous options for high-quality surfacetreatment and finishing.
Right across the numerous subject areas the Group’s experts can look forward to a receptive specialist audience in the Russian capital. How strong the interest actually is in comprehensive professional information was confirmed by the positive reaction to the latest Gerresheimer Pharma Day which was held just recently in September 2009, and the same will certainly be the case in Moscow.
