Althea installs INOVA H3-5 high-speed syringe filling line

Althea Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of development and manufacturing services for biopharmaceuticals and parenteral drug products, announced today that it has completed the installation of a new INOVA H3-5 high-speed syringe filling line.  This line is located in Althea's large scale & commercial manufacturing facility in San Diego. The expanded capacity complements existing prefilled syringe manufacturing for clinical supplies and allows Althea to provide its clients with drug product in prefilled syringes from early development through commercial supply.

The INOVA H3-5 syringe line operates within a Restricted Access Barrier System (RABS) and incorporates the ability to fill under vacuum, which facilitates handling of viscous products and products that require minimal head space.  The line accommodates nested syringes from a variety of suppliers and can produce batch sizes in excess of 100,000 units.  The system incorporates non-destructive, in-process weight checks to minimize product loss.  Rick Hancock, President of Contract Manufacturing Services at Althea Technologies, commented, "We've been filling syringes for clinical use for over eight years, and the addition of this new line allows us to continue to meet client requirements as they progress from late stage development through commercialization."

The prefilled syringe market is rapidly expanding as it provides numerous benefits relating to patient compliance and product differentiation.  "With our existing expertise in formulation development and protein analytics, we can now offer clients an integrated solution to quickly develop, register, and launch their products in prefilled syringes," added Dr. Shabbir Anik, CEO of Althea Technologies.

The line will be available for production of GMP batches in Q1, 2011.  Please visit the Althea Technologies website for more detailed information about the new, large scale syringe filling capabilities.