Inhalation

Whether oral solid dosage pharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems or diagnostic and medical devices, many healthcare products are susceptible to degradation and stability issues.

Colorcon is a leading specialist in controlled atmosphere packaging with indepth knowledge of moisture, oxygen and odor management inside healthcare packaging. Contact us for more details on which solution is the most suitable for your specific needs.

Inhalation

In medicine, inhalation products typically target pharmaceuticals which have a beneficial effect on breathing (as in the case of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Still, inhalers are sensitive devices, susceptible to damage. This is where we are able to step in and offer a host of solutions – from PharmaKeep® canisters, EQIUS® equilibrium RH stabilizer, ADP® (Advanced Desiccant Polymer) to desiccant packets. All comply with FDA guidance, as well as other international quality guidelines, and help keep inhalation therapy products secure and safe from moisture and other external factors.

Inhalation products - their benefits and risks

Breathing is one of the ways in which medication can be administered since the internal lining of the lungs is exceptionally absorbent, with inhalable medications dating back millennia.
Today, inhalation products – also referred to as inhalers, allergy sprays, puffers, or pumps – are the most common way of delivering medicines into the lungs. An inhaler can be nasal or oral, each having its own unique advantages as well as disadvantages. These pharmaceutical products are an integral part of inhalation therapy for asthma, COPD, allergies, and a host of other disorders. Easy to use, safe, and effective, they have created a revolution in the field. With the proper education of the end-user, they can be employed daily and make the life of those suffering from certain illnesses a lot easier. Soft mist inhalers and nebulizers are available in pharmacies across the globe, but the dry powder inhalers and meter-dosed inhalers are the most popular by their ease of use.

Still, much like all other devices, they come with a few innate issues. Dry inhalers are particularly to changes in relative humidity. When the humidity is too high, the particles tend to clump together, preventing the fine particles from effectively dispersing through the airway and delivering incomplete doses. When the humidity is too low, the particles tend to become charged and statically cling to the inside of the delivery device, also delivering ineffective or incomplete doses. EQIUS® products are designed to hold a stable humidity level that can be tailored to the device and the pharmaceutical being used.

Oxygen is another enemy of the inhaler. Penetrating into the core of the mechanism, it can diminish its ability to perform its task. Inadequate packaging can only aggravate these risks so a good deal of attention ought to be devoted to solving this problem before the inhaler is delivered to its destination.

The ways to follow quality guidelines and deliver excellent service

An inhaler – much like many other pharmaceutical products – is a sensitive medical device that can bring great relief to a patient. Its parts, however, are not created to withstand extreme conditions and only proper protection will guarantee that it remains intact until it is ready to be used. Packaging performs a vital role and our team is constantly researching new protective solutions.

Through stability studies and superior quality control, we make sure that our products meet the highest standards and offer protection that meets and exceeds the demands of our clients.

Each product has its own protection

Keeping sensitive products safe and secure requires products that can adapt to different conditions and provide protection of inhalation products in nearly all circumstances. They are divided into four types:

PharmaKeep® canisters are produced in the form of canisters, packets, and bags. They are able to protect pharmaceutical devices from oxygen degradation and oxidative reactions – without requiring any moisture to react. These canisters can easily be used in conjunction with desiccants, without any adverse effect on their functionality. They can also be paired with OXYNOV® oxygen barrier for improved performance.

EQIUS® are used to maintain predetermined humidity levels where such conditions are required – including different equilibrium levels from 10% to 60% RH. Equilibrium RH Stabilizers can fit the packaging of just about any nasal or oral inhaler and are fully able to comply with FDA guidance. They perform like humectants (disorders) and desiccants (adsorbers) and are ideal for the protection of sensitive formulations.

ADP® – Advanced Desiccant Polymer is able to address the needs of various moisture sensitive medical devices. With careful planning and precise insertion, the ADP element becomes an integral part of the device. Embedded into the packaging, this active desiccant polymer solution is suited for pharmaceutical products. It is able to meet specific absorption requirements and performs permanent desiccation, is non-dusting, and guarantees swallowing avoidance.

Desiccant packets are a technology that has been around for decades and through extensive research and development this solution is continually updated to meet the highest standards and the latest quality guidelines.

Our range of solutions are designed to be used independently or in conjunction to make sure that the inhalers reach those suffering from COPD and asthma intact.