Sterilization Extends to Biologics and Pharmaceuticals

While the sterile medical packaging market is expected to grow, newer and ‘novel’ methods permit the sterilization of biologics, combination products and pharmaceuticals.

Gamma irradiators are powered by Cobalt-60, killing microorganisms throughout the product and its packaging with very little temperature effect and no residues. (All photos in this story provided by Sterigenics.)
Gamma irradiators are powered by Cobalt-60, killing microorganisms throughout the product and its packaging with very little temperature effect and no residues. (All photos in this story provided by Sterigenics.)

Hospital-acquired infections, a growing geriatric population, and the rising number of pharmaceutical firms and hospitals in Asia are increasing the global need for sterilization equipment.

The need is growing—so much so that MarketsAndMarkets forecasts the sterile medical packaging equipment market will experience an 8.8% CAGR, reaching $6.93 billion by 2021.

Zion Market Research’s “Sterile Medical Packaging Market: Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015-2021,” describes the significance of packaging and sterilization:

“Packaging is an essential and intrinsic part of the process of product manufacturing. It ensures products’ safety and effortless transportation of products. Choosing the most appropriate sterilization packaging in the healthcare sector is a challenging task of the healthcare product manufacturers including pharmaceuticals as well as medical devices. Various sterilization packaging types, such as pouches, wraps, and container systems, are available in the market in different sizes and specifications for the purpose of sterilizing and packaging medical devices and other instruments. Factors such as application, performance, and selection of proper sterilization packaging systems are important for the execution of sterilization of the packaged content, maintaining sterility of the packaged contents until the package is open for use, and enabling removal of contents without contamination.”

Not just medical devices

Sterigenics Intl. LLC provides contract sterilization from 43 different facilities within 13 countries, using ethylene oxide, gamma and electron beam processes, while expanding into alternative sterilization methods.

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