SGD, previously known as Saint-Gobain DesjonquEres, a French manufacturer of glass containers for pharmaceuticals and perfumery/cosmetics, has developed the EasyLyo, a type 1 moulded vial, to meet growing demand for small-capacity containers for biodrugs.
The main issues taken into consideration by SGD's r&d department for the development and design of this new vial were the specific requirements of the lyophilisation process.
The vial features a flat base optimising heat transfer, a 30% reduction in the vial's weight, improved durability due to better distribution of the glass, more marked shoulders for improved filling and a standard 20mm ISO neck compatible with all closures and reconstitution systems on the market.
The EasyLyo range is currently available in two sizes of 5ml and 10ml.
"Until now, moulded glass has hardly ever been used for these small capacity containers, which have generally been made of tubing glass. By developing an offer specifically for this market, the SGD group is demonstrating its r&d capability and offering an attractive alternative to the competition," said Vincent Langlade, pharmaceutical marketing director at SGD.
A project to develop 15ml, 20ml and 30ml vials is also underway.
Other treatments are also possible, such as siliconisation, enabling certain biological compounds to be stored for longer periods, or external heat treatment, making bottles able to resist the thermal shock of the liquid nitrogen baths required in certain lyophilisation processes.
