Zeon Chemicals L.P.

April 16, 2007
Polymer Boosts Break-Resistance of Parenteral Packaging

Zeon Chemicals L.P. will be highlighting its Zeonex Cyclo Olefin Polymer (COP) at Interphex 2007, booth #1977. Zeonex offers breakage-resistant packaging for protein-based, peptide-based, and high-viscosity drugs, as well as contrast media.

Mechanical properties of devices made from Zeonex have no significant change after steam, ethylene oxide and gamma sterilization. Zeonex has extremely low water absorption, leading to the ability to store the drugs for longer periods.

Zeonex is used in pre-filled syringes and vials where transparency, sterilization, breakage-resistance and better stability are important. Zeonex is tougher than COC plastics, making Zeonex suitable for larger, more integrate molding where it is less prone to breakage during molding than COCs. Compared with glass, medical devices made from Zeonex overcome breakage, handling, weight, and disposal concerns with glass.

Zeonex is best for high-viscosity drugs when there is an increased risk of breakage or contamination during injection; protein and peptide-based drugs where there are concerns about adsorption with glass and lyophilized drugs where there is a concern regarding pH shift of the diluent.

Additional types of drugs where usage of Zeonex may benefit include hyaluronic acid, insulin, bio-pharmaceuticals, oncology drugs, and contrast media. Zeonex can be molded for pre-filled syringes and pen injector cartridges ranging from 250ml.