The Tech Group

With the prevalence of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) rapidly increasing globally, West is working with its pharmaceutical partners to support their development of new injectable treatments for this serious liver condition. However, there are many challenges associated with trying to bring new treatments to market.

As noted previously, certain drugs require cold storage in order to maintain efficacy for delivery to patients.  A well-monitored cold chain can help to ensure that drugs are properly handled throughout storage and transportation. But how can a manufacturer prove that the drugs are maintained and controlled adequately in a cold environment?

Temperature sensitive drug products, such as biologics or insulin, often require cold storage. But what, exactly is “cold”?  We know it when we feel it, but often when one person is shivering, another is quite comfortable. Like humans, drug products may have specific tolerances to cold that depend upon the product.

The rise in type 2 diabetes has sparked a variety of treatment options, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1s are a class of injected drugs (additional oral options are currently in development) that “mimic the action of GLP-1 and increase the incretin effect in patients with type 2 diabetes, stimulating the release of insulin.”¹ Commonly used when oral treatment alone is not enough, the benefits of GLP-1s include a reduction of glucagon and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), weight loss and a low risk of hypoglycemia.²

Glucose monitoring, or measuring the amount of sugar in the blood, is a vital part of everyday care for those suffering from diabetes. Traditional tests require patients to prick their fingers and place a drop of blood on a test strip. The strip is then placed in a glucose meter that reports the results to the patient. While this test is very accurate, it offers a reading for only a single point in time. For patients to get a range of their blood glucose levels, more frequent data is needed at a variety of different times.

On March 18 in NYC, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. was recognized as a leading Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) among emerging biotech companies (EBT) at the 2015 CMO Leadership Awards.