Camille Ermine, Product Manager at SGD Pharma, in this webinar explains how SGD Pharma has developed a real alternative vial design to reduce breakage risk during lyophilization.
Lyophilization is a demanding process on the primary container. There can be significant side-load force during vial transfer in/out of the lyophilizer, dramatic temperature cycles range from ambient to cryogenic, phase changes involve all three states-of-matter and finally, there are significant vertical-load forces during stopper closure.
Even at low frequency occurrence, glass vial breakage during a lyophilization cycle is a serious issue. Traditional moulded glass vials are heavier and more resistant to breakage, however still not ideal. An optimized moulded vial design provides lyo-breakage protection without sacrificing acceptable thermodynamic performance.