IN THE NEWS
PACKAGING SOLUTIONS APPROVED FOR HIV PREVENTION MEDICINE
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ptar’s packaging solution for oral solid dose drug delivery has been approved for a HIV prevention medicine, the company has announced.
VR paves the way for continuous manufacturing
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irtual reality (VR) may be helping pharmaceutical companies experience the benefits of continuous manufacturing thanks to a new offering by GEA. GEA’s Continuous Experience room, demonstrated at this year’s CPhI,
The company’s Activ-Blister packaging protects oral solid drug products with a type of polymer that can be customised specifically for a drug developer’s formulation. It is designed to protect drugs through moisture protection, and oxygen and odour scavenging. The oral solid dose drug was developed by a leading pharmaceutical company in the HIV treatment and prevention space and represents the first FDA approval of Aptar’s Activ-Blister packaging solution.
enabled visitors to use VR to take a closer look at the company’s continuous manufacturing technologies. In particular, visitors got the chance to examine ConsiGma, a multipurpose platform designed by GEA to transform powder into coated tablets in
development, pilot, clinical and production volumes in a single compact unit. Dr Jim Holman, GEA New Development & Innovation Pharma, explained: “GEA designs and manufactures a wide range of complex equipment and cuttingedge machinery. Virtual reality (VR) allows us to present those technologies in a comprehensible way and greatly facilitates processes such as operator training and the breakdown or disassembly (and reassembly) of plant for cleaning and maintenance.” Arco Hamelink, vice president global
sales, pharma solids, added: “We see VR as an enabling tool that we can use to communicate the benefits of our solutions to both existing and future customers and demonstrate the full potential of platforms such as ConsiGma without actually having a finished line in place.” “In fact, with VR, we can provide guidance and train users to successfully operate complicated pharmaceutical manufacturing systems long before the hardware has actually been delivered and installed.”
DRINKING STRAW MAKES TAKING MEDICINE EASIER
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new drinking straw has been designed to help make it easier for people to swallow medication. The XStraw has been designed to help people take a safe, pre-portioned oral drug to ensure they receive a precise dose each time. The straw is used alongside a beverage to help the user ingest their proper drug dosage. The straw was designed by DS Technology but uses
a porous filter solution from Porex to keep drugs in place. The filter works by absorbing liquid only when the user begins to suck on the straw, preventing medication from clumping together and changes position to indicate when the drug has been consumed. The device is designed for those who may struggle to take medication, such as children or elderly people. “With more than 50%
of people young and old having problems taking pills, the XStraw becomes a gamechanger for anyone seeking a simple and intuitive method for administering an exact dosing quantity,” said Dr Elke SternbergerRützel of DS Technology. “Through our partnership with Porex, we’re able to offer patients of all ages an effective way to ingest their medication safely and properly.”