AAPS Press Unveils Lyophilization Of Biopharmaceuticals Title - Market Research

AAPS Press Unveils Lyophilization Of Biopharmaceuticals Title
2 Feb 2005
Bioresearch Online
The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) is proud to announce the publication of Lyophilization of Biopharmaceuticals, the second volume of the AAPS Press series Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Aspects. The book is co-edited by Henry R. Costantino, Ph.D., Director of Formulations, Nastech Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. and Michael J. Pikal, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of Connecticut.
"The introduction of this text is very timely with the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry paired with the latest technologies to reduce the cost of drug development," said Dr. Pikal.
Biopharmaceuticals, or drugs made from living organisms, have shelf life constraints that require reliable preservation techniques. Lyophilization is a method of freeze-drying to sustain material without destroying its physical or chemical structure. The advent of freeze-drying in biological products can be linked to the need for the large-scale production of valuable materials such as blood plasma, vaccines, and some of the most significant medical commodities we have today.
Lyophilization of Biopharmaceuticals outlines and analyzes lyophilization equipment, validation, stresses, products and techniques. A comprehensive presentation of FDA-approved biopharmaceutical products and their excipients is also included. The result is a broad volume for scientists and managers interested in the formulation of peptides, proteins, and other biopharmaceuticals in the freeze-dried state.
"Dr. Pikal and I are pleased to complete this project, the culmination of years of work among scientific world leaders from academia and industry," added Dr. Costantino.
The origins of freeze-drying can be traced back more than a thousand years with both Vikings and ancient South Americans using variations of the method to extend the shelf life of food. Over the years the process has evolved into a highly refined tool for the complex task of preserving important drugs such as biopharmaceuticals.