Selection of a Primary Container Closure System Capable of Maintaining Closure Integrity during Cold Storage at -80°C

Advanced therapies are rapidly becoming a reality, targeting unmet patient needs and treatments for diseases with limited therapeutic options. Some advanced therapies, such as gene therapy and mRNA, require cryopreservation due to their fragile nature at room temperature, putting unprecedented expectations on the packaging systems to maintain Container Closure Integrity (CCI) during storage at -80°C. The quality, patient safety, and high value of these therapeutics can be jeopardized if the chosen containment system doesn’t consistently maintain a sterile barrier from when the drug is packed through to administration to the patient. During cooling between room temperature and -80°C, common vial system components such as glass vials, elastomeric closures, and aluminum seals exhibit contraction and changes in physico-mechanical properties. These changes in material properties and component dimensions may affect the system’s ability to maintain closure integrity, resulting in the formation of transient leaks.

In this joint study conducted by West and Corning, we discuss results from four experiments that explore the influences of capping pressure, cooling rate, dimensional changes, and long-term storage at -80°C on the system’s ability to maintain closure integrity. Both Helium leak testing and laser-based gas headspace analysis were used to monitor the closure integrity. The key result of the study is a combination of vial system components and capping conditions that maintain container closure integrity when cooled to and stored at -80°C