PSL says demand for HPAPI containment growing
The comments coincide with the launch of two of its redesigned technologies: Slurry box, a dispensing and weighing station used to introduce powder into reactors; and Multi-Drum Monocell, which is a pneumatic hoist system used for adding powders to reactors.
PSL stressed the safety features of the two new systems – the latter of which achieves an occupational exposure limit (OEL) of less than 1 μg/m³ over an 8 hour period – as the key innovations and suggested that operator safety is an increasing concern as pharmaceutical firms continue to focus on potent drugs.
“Given the trend for ever increasing potency of pharmaceutical powders, project engineers are continually faced with the challenge of upgrading the containment of their charging process to a new or existing reactor.”
The redesigned lines fit with PSL’s focus on cater for the high potency active pharmaceutical ingredient market (HPAPI), which recently saw the UK firm install one of its clinical trial isolator units at a new plant being built by the ingredients arm of Swiss firm Helsinn.
At the time PSL said that Biasca-based Helsinn Advanced Synthesis plans to open the new facility for the production of cytotoxic drug compound and had adopted its technologies to ensure operator safety.
It said: “Worked closely with Helsinn to develop suitable solutions for their cytotoxic facility and is providing a suite of high containment systems including contained agitated nutsche filter dryers, charging gloveboxes with slurry vessels and a Clinical Trial Isolator.”
The launch of the redesigned technology continues the strategy PSL set out for in-Pharmatechnologist.com last year at Interphex in New York, US when we met with PSL and partners Schenck Accurate, Malvern, and Sturtevant to discuss their collaboration in the field of HPAPI milling.
