Protecting precious therapies: SCHOTT Pharma unveils polymer syringe for ultra-low temperature storage at -180 °C

Cell and gene therapies represent the forefront of biomedicine, with over 40 products approved by FDA and hundreds more in development. These therapies target diseases that have been challenging to treat, such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and rare genetic disorders, by replacing damaged or malfunctioning cells or genes with healthy ones.

Given the complexity and specialization of these therapies, they require stringent storage and transportation conditions, including ultra-low temperatures. Traditionally, cryo bags have been used for such purposes. However, SCHOTT Pharma's optimized SCHOTT TOPPAC® freeze prefillable polymer syringes now offer an advanced alternative.

Reliable drug storage and delivery at -180 °C

In latest studies SCHOTT Pharma has rigorously tested the functionalities of their prefillable polymer syringes under low-temperature conditions, assessing factors such as container closure integrity, silicone leachables, drug compatibility, Break Loose Gliding Force (BLGF) of the plunger, TRC opening torque, sterility barrier, optical properties, and mechanical stability. The results demonstrate that these syringes perform flawlessly at -180 °C. "Our focus is on optimizing products to serve the patient, the pharmaceutical company, and the medication. With our prefillable polymer syringes, we have successfully addressed all these dimensions," explains Christoph Zauner, Head of Product Management Polymer Solutions at SCHOTT Pharma.

SCHOTT Pharma's advanced polymer syringes are manufactured at its facilities in Müllheim, Germany, and St. Gallen, Switzerland.

More information on SCHOTT TOPPAC® freeze prefillable polymer syringes from SCHOTT Pharma: https://www.schott-pharma.com/en/products/syringes/schott-toppac-freeze

About SCHOTT Pharma

Human health matters. That is why SCHOTT Pharma designs solutions grounded in science to ensure that medications are safe and easy to use for people around the world. Every minute, more than 25,000 people receive an injection packed in a SCHOTT Pharma product. The portfolio comprises drug containment solutions and delivery systems for injectable drugs ranging from prefillable glass and polymer syringes to cartridges, vials, and ampoules. Every day, a team of around 4,700 people from over 60 nations works at SCHOTT Pharma to contribute to global healthcare. The company is represented in all main pharmaceutical hubs with 17 manufacturing sites in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. With over 1,000 patents and technologies developed in-house and a state-of-the-art R&D center in Switzerland, the company is focused on developing innovations for the future. SCHOTT Pharma AG & Co. KGaA is headquartered in Mainz, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the SDAX. It is majority owned by SCHOTT AG, which is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. In light of this spirit, SCHOTT Pharma is committed to sustainable development for society and the environment. Currently, SCHOTT Pharma has over 1,800 customers including the top 30 leading pharma manufacturers for injectable drugs and generated revenue of EUR 957 million in the fiscal year 2024. Further information at www.schott-pharma.com