Next-level efficiency and sustainability: SCHOTT Pharma unveils innovative nest design for ready-to-use cartridges

Wednesday, December 4, 2024, Mainz, Germany

  • New diamond-shaped nest design for ready-to-use (RTU) cartridges boosts efficiency in pharmaceutical filling processes by up to 67% and significantly reduces CO2 emissions by close to 25% in the supply chain for 1.5 ml RTU cartridges.
  • Depending on the specifications of the cartridges, the new nest increases packing density by up to 60% while improving stability and maintaining the same external nest dimensions.
  • With the new nest, pharma companies benefit from faster fill-and-finish operations of critical medications, including GLP-1, insulin, and hormone therapies.
SCHOTT Pharma, a pioneer in drug containment and delivery solutions, announces the launch of its groundbreaking nest design for ready-to-use (RTU) cartridges known as cartriQ®. The new nest retains its external dimensions, while the cartridges are fixated in diamond-shaped holes instead of round ones. This optimized configuration significantly increases the packing density by up to 60% while improving stability, which is crucial as the cartridges remain in the nest during the entire filling process. “With this revolutionary product, we are proactively addressing one of the key factors in reducing costs for pharmaceutical companies and reorganizing their value chain. Our new nest for RTU cartridges not only enhances operational efficiency by up to 67% when using 1.5 ml cartridges, but also significantly contributes to sustainability efforts in the industry," said Andreas Reisse, CEO of SCHOTT Pharma. "We have received positive feedback from our customers so far," he adds, citing the case of a Big Pharma company where the new nest for 3 ml RTU cartridges has also been optimized for high packaging density using the same approach. In the long term, this change can save a pharma company a considerable amount of CO2 per year.
Woman with gloves holds a nest with carpules
SCHOTT Pharma’s innovative nest design for ready-to-use cartridges boosts efficiency and sustainability. Image: SCHOTT Pharma/Oana Szekely
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SCHOTT Pharma’s new nest is available For Human Use (FHU) and is manufactured at the company’s production site in St. Gallen, Switzerland with the outlook of further sites adopting it in the future. It is a complete solution that enhances the efficient filling of high-quality drugs, such as GLP-1, insulin, and hormone therapies. Depending on the requirements of the drug and therefore the format of the cartridge, SCHOTT Pharma managed to fit as many as 160 RTU cartridges in one nest when using the 1.5 ml cartriQ® format while ensuring highest quality and stability.

Driving high-value solutions to meet customer needs

The complete platform of cartriQ® sterile cartridges ranges from small to large filling volumes of 1.5 ml to 20 ml. As an RTU solution, the cartridges are crimped, pre-washed, depyrogenated, siliconized, and steam sterilized. This preparation enables CDMOs and pharma companies to commence the filling process immediately, bypassing the need to manage these preliminary steps themselves. As part of SCHOTT Pharma’s high-value solutions (HVS) portfolio, these cartridges and the new nest exemplify the company’s commitment as a reliable partner to the pharma industry, providing premium, innovative solutions that meet the customers’ needs.

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. 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 over 4,600 people from over 60 nations works at SCHOTT Pharma to contribute to global healthcare. The company is represented in all main pharmaceutical hubs with 16 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 MDAX. It is part of 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 and has the strategic goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Currently, SCHOTT Pharma has over 1,800 customers including the top 30 leading pharma manufacturers for injectable drugs and generated revenue of EUR 899 million in the fiscal year 2023. Further information at www.schott-pharma.com

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Joana Kornblum - Public Relations Manager
Joana Kornblum

Manager Corporate Communications