SP Scientific has signed a license agreement to use Praxair's Controlyo nucleation on-demand technology, which provides precise control over the freeze-drying process for drug developmental efforts.
Praxair's technology was developed to control the freezing step of lyophilisation, a method of drying pharmaceuticals whereby the material is frozen and then warmed in a vacuum so that the ice vapourises.
Until now, this freezing step of lyophilisation was uncontrolled due to the random nature of the nucleation or crystal-forming process.
Praxair's Controlyo technology now makes nucleation control a reality by controlling the nucleation temperature to within 1C of its freezing point.
The results are improved product uniformity, quality and yield, and a reduction in cycle times by as much as 40 per cent.
