Vetter, a specialist in aseptic filling, has installed three additional state-of-the-art lyophilizers at the company's Ravensburg Vetter South facility, nearly doubling its number of freeze-dryers. Altogether, the site will be able to produce up to 24 million lyophilized units annually. The new equipment increases the number of lyophilizers across all Vetter facilities by 30 percent. The company made the investment to meet anticipated future demand for aseptically filled biologics and other sensitive compounds, which often require lyophilization to prolong shelf life and potency.
In the last three years, more than 30 percent of all novel drugs approved in the United States were lyophilized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Experts predict continued growth.
A leading expert in the lyophilization of injectable drugs, Vetter introduced lyophilization services in 1981. Vetter innovated dual-chamber technology, used by the Vetter Lyo-Ject® syringe and VLK ® cartridge, to quickly and easily reconstitute lyophilized compounds. Lyophilized drug resides in one chamber; diluent in the other. Just prior to administration, the diluent is pushed through a channel between the two chambers to reconstitute the drug. In addition to ease of use, the closed system supports more accurate dosing and increased API yield.
"Like our customers, we anticipate substantial growth in the demand for lyophilized compounds," says Peter Soelkner, Managing Director at Vetter. "They have become pivotal components of the portfolio and strategy of many pharmaceutical and biotech companies, which are continuously developing new drugs in this segment. In turn, as a strategic partner to our clients, we continuously invest in the infrastructure and equipment needed to support their needs in commercial manufacturing."