SFF
Drug packaging using blow-fill-seal (BFS) technology involves moulding, filling, and sealing plastic containers with liquid or viscous drugs in one continuous operation. This technology is ideal for packaging liquid drugs for respiratory or ophthalmic administration, while also providing precise dosing and ease of delivery.
There are several key drivers behind the rising demand for BFS technology. These include the increasing prevalence of respiratory issues, due to growing levels of air pollution worldwide, and the rise in ophthalmic conditions, as a result of an ageing global population.
Developers using this technology are also able to package their drug products without preservatives, therefore reducing the potential for negative side effects in patients.
However, the growing demand for BFS technology does pose additional considerations for drug developers. Producing BFS packaging requires the investment into and training of personnel for the use of highly specialised equipment and expertise, as well as adherence to strict quality control protocols to ensure the safety and efficacy of the finished product.
BFS processes can also be sensitive to variations in drug formulation and packaging materials, therefore making it difficult to consistently produce high-quality products and increasing the cost and complexity of getting a product to market.
In response to the growing demand for BFS products, some contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) are evolving their service offerings to better support drug developers in overcoming these challenges. By investing into the technology, capabilities, personnel, and testing and validation required, these partners are key to helping drug developers bring their products to market in a timely and cost-effective manner.
In the latest issue of The Pharmaceutical Post, Yves Buelens, Site Manager at Recipharm’s facility in Kaysersberg shares more about the latest investment into the sites’ capabilities and discusses how the CDMO is preparing to diversify its production to other therapeutic areas.