Pharmatek increases liquid filled capsule capacity
With the addition of a Qualicaps FS3 automated system
Pharmatek Laboratories, a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) based in San Diego, California, US, has ‘substantially’ expanded and improved the efficiency of its liquid encapsulation lines with the installation of a Qualicaps FS3 automated liquid filling and banding system.
Kevin Rosenthal, Pharmatek’s director of manufacturing, says the Qualicaps FS3 not only increases the scale of the firm’s capsule filling, but it also has other features that improve the quality of this dosage form. These include a robust gelatin band sealing technology that allows a quick visual check of seal integrity and a heated hopper system for handling a range of liquid viscosities, including semi-solid and other BCS Class II formulations.
The FS3 unit is equipped with an inert gas purge system and capsule-lifting feature, allowing for the handling of oxygen sensitive drug products. The inert gas purge system presents warmed air, or inert gas, into the headspace of the capsule, minimising process defects and thus increasing the overall product yield. The FS3 liquid filling and banding system is configured to handle clear or coloured banding and gelatin or HPMC capsules ranging in sizes from 4 to 00.
