PCI Pharma, CSP to Partner on Packaging Solutions

On Sept. 18, 2018, contract service provider PCI Pharma Services announced an exclusive collaboration agreement with CSP Technologies, a provider of moisture protection and gas-scavenging solutions, for United States-based clinical trials and stability testing using Activ-Blister packaging solutions.

According to PCI, the packaging is designed to actively control the internal atmosphere/headspace of individual blister cavities without the use of purging, allowing for improved stability and enhanced shelf life. Using silica gel and molecular sieve technology, the solutions can absorb tailored amounts of moisture, oxygen, and other gases, and can be produced in shapes and sizes to accommodate any tablet or capsule. The technology can be applied without changes to the existing footprints of packaging lines, PCI reports. The product can be incorporated into a range of blister packaging formats, including push-through blisters, peel/push blisters, cold-form foils, and high-barrier films containing Aclar laminates.

“Increasingly, we are seeing a need from our clients for supporting sensitive drug products,” said Bob Misher, senior vice president, PCI Clinical Services, in a company press release. “With the pressure on pipeline development to reduce lead-times and reduce drug development costs, coupled with a growing focus on specialized medicines, our clients are challenged to get products through clinical phases and into commercialization more quickly than ever before. Often, this results in drug products that are very sensitive to moisture, oxygen, or other gases and this can be problematic for both expedited clinical study as well as in progressing to commercialization.”

“Traditionally this has required the use of high-barrier films and foils and potentially packaging in modified environments to attempt to achieve the required shelf life,” Misher continued. “With CSP’s Activ-Blister solutions, the proven technology will substantially impact the success of the packaging system in achieving optimal shelf life, resulting in faster speed-to-market for our clients. We have already seen considerable interest in initiating studies utilizing Activ-Blister.”

Source: PCI Pharma Services