Glass Bottles Persist in Pharmaceutical Packaging, Despite Fragility Concerns

In the pharmaceutical industry, glass bottles continue to play a significant role in packaging both over-the-counter and prescription medications, despite ongoing challenges with breakage and contamination risks. (Image courtesy of Korea Bizwire)

SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – In the pharmaceutical industry, glass bottles continue to play a significant role in packaging both over-the-counter and prescription medications, despite ongoing challenges with breakage and contamination risks. 

While glass containers are prized for their ability to preserve drug integrity, their fragility has prompted pharmaceutical companies to seek alternative solutions, including changes in packaging and improvements in manufacturing processes.

On September 29, industry sources reported that Hanmi Pharmaceutical has decided to discontinue the bottle version of its anemia treatment Ferromax Solution (ferric polymaltose complex).

This decision comes in the wake of recent product recalls due to concerns about container breakage and potential glass fragment contamination at the Sejong manufacturing facility of its contract manufacturer, Genuone Science. 

The same product faced similar recalls last year due to potential foreign substance contamination. In response to these recurring issues, Hanmi Pharmaceutical plans to produce the medication exclusively in pouch form to ensure safety.

JW Life Science has already transitioned from glass bottles to plastic containers and non-PVC (polyvinyl chloride) bags for its intravenous solutions. However, the superior preservation qualities of glass make it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to abandon this packaging material entirely.

Many medications, particularly those administered via injection, continue to be packaged in glass vials and ampoules. To address the inherent risks, pharmaceutical companies are implementing various strategies to mitigate breakage and contamination issues. 

Dongwha Pharmaceutical has reduced the risk of breakage by decreasing the number of glass bottles per package from 100 to 50 during distribution. A company representative emphasized, “Glass bottles are the best for preserving liquid medications.

To minimize the risk of breakage during the manufacturing process, we’ve reduced the unit size and made the bottles more robust.” 

Dong-A Pharmaceutical has implemented additional safety measures for its Bacchus energy drink, including a secondary optical inspection for foreign substances even after the final cap sealing process.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)