GEA Pharma Systems's VAPOVAC(TM): H2O2 Sterilisation for Pharmaceutical Freeze Dryers, Gets FDA Approval

VAPOVAC™ the latest technology for H2O2 gas sterilisation of pharmaceutical freeze dryers from GEA Lyophil, has recently achieved approval from the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). FDA approval has now cleared the way for GEA Lyophil to market the system worldwide. The system is ideally suited to pharmaceutical applications that require sterile conditions without the stresses and high power usage associated with steam sterilisation techniques.

With VAPOVAC™, GEA Lyophil has developed a less expensive option using H2O2

(Hydrogen Peroxide) that is faster, safer, more efficient and easier on the environment than steam. The technology is available both for new plants and as a retrofit for existing installations.

The VAPOVAC™ steriliser uses hydrogen peroxide to sterilise equipment under vacuum in a three-stage process: drying, sterilisation and aeration. Only a very small quantity of hydrogen peroxide is used to penetrate the freeze dryer vessels and all associated piping of the equipment. This method effectively eliminates all residual contamination. The freeze dryer is then fully vented, leaving no harmful residues.

GEA Lyophil is the only company to offer this technology. Hubert Kluetsch, Director of Sales and Marketing for the company said that the FDA approval was very important. “Not having the FDA approval has held us back until now as so many potential customers were unable to consider technology that did not have the FDA stamp,” he said. “Now that the FDA has given VAPOVAC™ its seal of approval, many new markets will be open for us.”

VAPOVAC™ is just one of the freeze drying products supplied by GEA Lyophil for the pharmaceutical industry. The full range include: laboratory freeze dryers, both pilot scale for R&D and small production batches; industrial freeze dryers; and complete freeze dryer systems with Automatic Loading and Unloading Systems (ALUS®), integrated isolators, and CIP/SIP skids.

For further editorial information contact:

Steve Jordan - The Words Workshop Ltd. 26 Swanwick Lane, Milton Keynes, MK10 9LD, England. Tel: (44) (0) 1908 695500 Fax: (44) (0) 1908 690099 E-mail: steve@thewordsworkshop.co.uk Web: www.thewordsworkshop.co.uk

For further business information contact:

Hubert Kluetsch - Director Sales and Marketing GEA Lyophil GmbH Kalscheurener Str. 92 50354 Huerth Germany Tel: +49 (0) 2233/6999-220 Fax: +49 (0) 2233/6999-8220 E-mail: lyophil@geagroup.com www.geapharmasystems.com

Since the VAPOVAC technology fulfils all conditions for the sterilisation of machines in pharmaceutical industry, the acknowledgment took place via the FDA. It is guaranteed that the process can be validated and leads to the appropriate sterilisation result (SAL=10 exp.6).

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