Sealed For Safety: Understanding Injectable Drug Container Closure Systems

By Louis Brasten, Sr. Manager, Scientific Communications

A container closure system (CCS) acts like a team of components, such as a vial and stopper, working together to hold and safeguard the medication. Choosing the right CCS format is crucial, so understanding the different parts involved, their functions, storage requirements, and how they impact administering the drug is essential.

This introduction aims to give you a clearer picture of the components available to design a custom system specifically for containing and delivering your medication. The design needs to be tailored to the drug itself and its properties. Several factors come into play when selecting your CCS, including the drug's chemical or biological makeup (is it acidic, basic, easily evaporates, hazardous, or thick?), how it will be administered (swallowed, injected, etc.), and the storage conditions it will encounter. Picking the right drug packaging is vital for a successful launch, patient safety, and overall experience, so it's an essential step to consider early on during drug development.