Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Email Alerts
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use
  • About PDA JPST
    • JPST Editors and Editorial Board
    • About/Vision/Mission
    • Paper of the Year
  • Author & Reviewer Resources
    • Author Resources / Submit
    • Reviewer Resources
  • JPST Access and Subscriptions
    • PDA Members
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Nonmember Access
  • Support
    • Join PDA
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Advertising
    • CiteTrack
  • .
    • Visit PDA
    • PDA Letter
    • Technical Reports
    • news uPDATe
    • Bookstore

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
  • .
    • Visit PDA
    • PDA Letter
    • Technical Reports
    • news uPDATe
    • Bookstore
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Accepted Articles
    • Email Alerts
    • RSS
    • Terms of Use
  • About PDA JPST
    • JPST Editors and Editorial Board
    • About/Vision/Mission
    • Paper of the Year
  • Author & Reviewer Resources
    • Author Resources / Submit
    • Reviewer Resources
  • JPST Access and Subscriptions
    • PDA Members
    • Institutional Subscriptions
    • Nonmember Access
  • Support
    • Join PDA
    • Contact
    • Feedback
    • Advertising
    • CiteTrack
  • Follow pda on Twitter
  • Visit PDA on LinkedIn
  • Visit pda on Facebook
Research ArticleResearch

Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Frozen Storage Drug Products

Alejandra Nieto, Holger Roehl, Helen Brown, Jonas Nikoloff, Michael Adler and Hanns-Christian Mahler
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology March 2016, 70 (2) 120-133; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5731/pdajpst.2015.006098
Alejandra Nieto
1Late-Stage Pharmaceutical and Process Development—Pharmaceutical Technical Development & Supplies Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; and
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: alejandra.nieto-pena@roche.com
Holger Roehl
1Late-Stage Pharmaceutical and Process Development—Pharmaceutical Technical Development & Supplies Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; and
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Helen Brown
1Late-Stage Pharmaceutical and Process Development—Pharmaceutical Technical Development & Supplies Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; and
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jonas Nikoloff
1Late-Stage Pharmaceutical and Process Development—Pharmaceutical Technical Development & Supplies Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; and
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michael Adler
1Late-Stage Pharmaceutical and Process Development—Pharmaceutical Technical Development & Supplies Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; and
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Hanns-Christian Mahler
1Late-Stage Pharmaceutical and Process Development—Pharmaceutical Technical Development & Supplies Europe, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland; and
2Lonza AG, Drug Product Services, Basel, Switzerland
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Sometimes, drug product for parenteral administration is stored in a frozen state (e.g., –20 °C or –80 °C), particularly during early stages of development of some biotech molecules in order to provide sufficient stability. Shipment of frozen product could potentially be performed in the frozen state, yet possibly at different temperatures, for example, using dry ice (–80 °C). Container closure systems of drug products usually consist of a glass vial, rubber stopper, and an aluminum crimped cap. In the frozen state, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of commonly used rubber stoppers is between –55 and –65 °C. Below their Tg, rubber stoppers are known to lose their elastic properties and become brittle, and thus potentially fail to maintain container closure integrity in the frozen state. Leaks during frozen temperature storage and transportation are likely to be transient, yet, can possibly risk container closure integrity and lead to microbial contamination. After thawing, the rubber stopper is supposed to re-seal the container closure system. Given the transient nature of the possible impact on container closure integrity in the frozen state, typical container closure integrity testing methods (used at room temperature conditions) are unable to evaluate and thus confirm container closure integrity in the frozen state. Here we present the development of a novel method (thermal physical container closure integrity) for direct assessment of container closure integrity by a physical method (physical container closure integrity) at frozen conditions, using a modified He leakage test. In this study, different container closure systems were evaluated with regard to physical container closure integrity in the frozen state to assess the suitability of vial/stopper combinations and were compared to a gas headspace method. In summary, the thermal physical container closure integrity He leakage method was more sensitive in detecting physical container closure integrity impact than gas headspace and aided identification of an unsuitable container closure system.

LAY ABSTRACT: Sometimes, drug product for parenteral administration is stored in a frozen state (e.g., –20 °C or –80 °C), particularly during early stages of development of some biotech molecules in order to provide sufficient stability. Container closure systems for drug products usually consist of a glass vial, rubber stopper, and an aluminum crimped cap. In the frozen state, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of commonly used rubber stoppers is between –55 and –65 °C. Leaks during frozen temperature storage and transportation are likely to be transient, yet they can possibly risk container closure integrity and lead to microbial contamination and sterility breach. After thawing, the rubber stopper is expected to re-seal the container closure system. Given the transient nature of the possible impact on container closure integrity in the frozen state, typical container closure integrity testing methods (used at room temperature conditions) are unable to evaluate and thus confirm container closure integrity in the frozen state. Here we present the development of a novel method (thermal container closure integrity) for direct measurement of container closure integrity by a physical method (physical container closure integrity) at frozen conditions, using a modified He leakage test. In this study, we found that the thermal container closure integrity He leakage method was more sensitive in detecting physical container closure integrity impact than gas headspace and aided identification of an unsuitable container closure system.

  • Container closure integrity
  • Frozen product
  • Container closure system
  • Vial
  • Headspace analysis
  • He leakage test
  • © PDA, Inc. 2016
View Full Text

PDA members receive access to all articles published in the current year and previous volume year. Institutional subscribers received access to all content. Log in below to receive access to this article if you are either of these.  

If you are neither or you are a PDA member trying to access an article outside of your membership license, then you must purchase access to this article (below). If you do not have a username or password for JPST, you will be required to create an account prior to purchasing. 

Full issue PDFs are for PDA members only.

Note to pda.org users

The PDA and PDA bookstore websites (www.pda.org and www.pda.org/bookstore) are separate websites from the PDA JPST website. When you first join PDA, your initial UserID and Password are sent to HighWirePress to create your PDA JPST account. Subsequent UserrID and Password changes required at the PDA websites will not pass on to PDA JPST and vice versa. If you forget your PDA JPST UserID and/or Password, you can request help to retrieve UserID and reset Password below.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Log in through your institution

You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your library if you do not have a username and password.
If your organization uses OpenAthens, you can log in using your OpenAthens username and password. To check if your institution is supported, please see this list. Contact your library for more details.

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.

patientACCESS

patientACCESS - Patients desiring access to articles

Full issue PDFs are for PDA members only. You can join PDA at www.pda.org. 

PreviousNext
Back to top

In This Issue

PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology: 70 (2)
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
Vol. 70, Issue 2
March/April 2016
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by Author
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Frozen Storage Drug Products
(Your Name) has sent you a message from PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
3 + 7 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Frozen Storage Drug Products
Alejandra Nieto, Holger Roehl, Helen Brown, Jonas Nikoloff, Michael Adler, Hanns-Christian Mahler
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Mar 2016, 70 (2) 120-133; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2015.006098

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Frozen Storage Drug Products
Alejandra Nieto, Holger Roehl, Helen Brown, Jonas Nikoloff, Michael Adler, Hanns-Christian Mahler
PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Mar 2016, 70 (2) 120-133; DOI: 10.5731/pdajpst.2015.006098
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction
    • Materials and Methods
    • Results and Discussion
    • Conclusions
    • Conflict of Interest Declaration
    • Acknowledgements
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Evaluation of Container Closure System Integrity for Storage of Frozen Drug Products: Impact of Capping Force and Transportation
  • Sealing Behaviour of Container Closure Systems under Frozen Storage Conditions: Nonlinear Finite Element Simulation of Serum Rubber Stoppers
  • Container Closure Integrity Testing--Practical Aspects and Approaches in the Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Container Closure Integrity of Vial Primary Packaging Systems under Frozen Storage Conditions: A Case Study
  • Advances in Large Volume Subcutaneous Injections: A Pilot Tolerability Study of an Innovative Needle-Free Injection Platform
  • Quantification and Stability Impact Assessment of Drop Stresses in Biologic Drug Products
Show more Research

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • Container closure integrity
  • Frozen product
  • Container closure system
  • Vial
  • headspace analysis
  • He leakage test

Readers

  • About
  • Table of Content Alerts/Other Alerts
  • Subscriptions
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Editors

Author/Reviewer Information

  • Author Resources
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Reviewers
  • Contact Editors

Parenteral Drug Association, Inc.

  • About
  • Advertising/Sponsorships
  • Events
  • PDA Bookstore
  • Press Releases

© 2023 PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology ISSN: 1079-7440

Powered by HighWire