Keren Sookne

Keren SookneFormerly a manufacturing engineer in the temperature-controlled biopharmaceutical industry, Keren Sookne took the helm of Healthcare Packaging in 2016, ensuring the most relevant trends and developments are covered in each issue. With in-depth process knowledge, she reports on materials science, automation, logistics/cold chain, traceability, and more for the highly regulated life science packaging community. Sookne holds a BS in chemical engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Aseptic/Sterile
Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk Invest Billions in North Carolina Manufacturing
Striving to meet the booming market demand for GLP-1 drugs, Lilly and Novo Nordisk are adding injectables manufacturing capacity—and around 1,600 jobs combined—in the cities of Concord and Clayton, NC.
June 26, 2024
Novo Nordisk, Clayton, North Carolina, US. New production facilities announced 24 June 2024. To be completed in 2027-2029. (Credit: Novo Nordisk)
Robotics/Automation
Digitalizing Line Clearance for Increased Uptime and Quality
In a survey, 73% of respondents had experienced at least one line clearance error in the previous 12 months. Automating this step can reduce errors while saving time in changeovers.
June 24, 2024
Line Clearance 4 Catalyx
Quick Hits
FDA Expands Access to Self-Collection for Cervical Cancer Screening
BD and Roche received expanded IFUs for self-collection in the clinical setting, while Teal Health’s new at-home screening device received breakthrough designation.
June 10, 2024
The Teal Wand is designed to replace the traditional in-office pap smear with a speculum and brush.
Recyclability
Upcoming SPMC Paper to Educate Lawmakers on Sterile Packaging
“We want to highlight the critical role that sterilization packaging plays … and share the potential risks and unintended consequences that could be caused by, in essence, ill-suited policy or legislation," says Nick Packet.
May 31, 2024
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Packaging/Filling
Nonprofit Civica Installs New High-value Filling Lines for Essential Medicines
Civica is on a mission to deliver quality generic medicines—including insulin—at low cost. A new isolator-integrated vial filling line and nest filling line allow them to produce many different forms of injectables to pivot based on greatest need.
May 28, 2024
Cartridge filling on the groninger line.
Sustainability
Biomimicry in Packaging: 6 Points to Ponder
Dr. Dayna Baumeister: “Maybe a misconception is that you get to keep doing the status quo. If you really want to do innovation, you’ve got to be willing to expand the possibilities of what might come out of it at the end of the day.”
May 21, 2024
Butterfly wing surfaces feature textures that naturally repeal water and dirt, similar to lotus flower leaves.
Medical Devices
MDMs: Submit Stability Data, Help Packaging Science!
With the aim of reducing stability testing by leveraging material data, the KiiP Wicked Stability Project is seeking to evaluate stability data of common medical device packaging materials. Join their effort—submit data by Nov. 30, 2024.
May 15, 2024
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Recyclability
HPRC Makes Strides Toward Advanced Recycling in Healthcare
Live from the[PACK]out: Healthcare plastics present a significant environmental challenge. The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) is spearheading initiatives to enhance recyclability through advanced recycling, aiming for a sustainable future.
May 14, 2024
Alison Bryant, senior consultant at Antea Group and communications director for the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC), addressed the crowd at the[PACK]out.
Temp Control/Cold Chain
Tight Logistics Control Is Key to Patient Cell Collection
Kite's Gary Paul explains that the starting materials for cell and gene therapies are the patients' own cells. This requires an easy packout for doctors and nurses, the utmost flexibility in manufacturing, and close watch over dewar cleaning materials.
May 7, 2024
Kite's Gary Paul spoke at the ISTA Forum's TempPack in San Diego in April.
Adherence/Delivery
Packaging Plays Key Role in Nasal Delivery of Dry Powder Biologics
Considering dry powder delivery for nasally inhaled drugs? Experts say it’s key to test and evaluate primary packaging at an early stage, because selections can impact final product performance.
April 29, 2024
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Matt Jenkins is the Principal Packaging Engineer at Stryker.
Medical Devices
What's On the Brain of a Principal Packaging Engineer?
Matt Jenkins, Principal Packaging Engineer at Stryker, reflects on the challenges and opportunities in med device packaging engineering, from current regulations to the diminishing “deep work.”
Through the Line: Packaging and Processing
Temp Control/Cold Chain
Through the Line Podcast: Digital Solutions Improve Serialization and Cold Chain Management
2025 The New Material World Compass Update Final Cover st5i L7h R7q
PMMI News
Meeting Sustainability Goals Requires Collaboration
Enshield uses leakproof Koolit Advanced gel, a form-stable PCM that never turns to liquid. It is also highly flexible, which means Enshield can be wrapped around the pallet for a snug fit.
Temp Control/Cold Chain
Teva Pharmaceuticals Proves Sea Freight Viability for Temperature-Sensitive Medicines
Smarter Static Monitoring for Healthcare Packaging Lines
Sponsor Content
Smarter Static Monitoring for Healthcare Packaging Lines