SCHOTT reaches COVID-19 milestone: vials for one bn vaccine doses delivered

Global specialty glass leader and pharmaceutical packaging supplier SCHOTT has delivered vials to provide more than one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

SCHOTT remains well on track to deliver vials for more than two billion vaccine doses through 2021.

The vials were delivered to projects around the world, with a focus on the US, Europe, and Asia. Approximately 90 per cent of approved vaccines rely on SCHOTT vials.

“The reaction of the pharmaceutical community to COVID-19 is a testament to the power of scientific progress,” said Dr Frank Heinricht, CEO of Germany headquartered SCHOTT AG. “In just under a year, all previous records for vaccine development have been shattered by not just one, but several research groups. The entire industry is successfully working together to ensure an adequate supply. We’re also working with our government partners to evaluate ways to improve the supply chain and expand production capacity.”

SCHOTT is a producers of pharmaceutical containers made from borosilicate glass, the most proven and most widely available material used to store and deliver vaccines and other sensitive medications. SCHOTT’s global manufacturing footprint includes five sites dedicated to the manufacture of type-1 borosilicate glass tubes and another 16 plants converting the tubes into vials.

SCHOTT’s plant in Jambusar, Gujarat is one of the five flagship pharmaceutical tubing production sites, responsible to catering to the vast demand in India and Asia. Owing to the soaring demand for quality glass packaging products, SCHOTT expanded its local tubing production capacity by 20,000 tons within one year. This translates into enough glass for over three billion vials.

SCHOTT also has a 50-50 Joint venture in India by the name of SCHOTT-KAISHA, who is a market leader for manufacturing and supplying pharmaceutical packaging products in India.

“This past year, we have together witnessed the global pharmaceutical industry’s resilience and dedication to fight the novel Coronavirus,” said Pawan Kumar Shukla, President SCHOTT Glass India. “We are proud to be a part in this fight from India, as a leading contributor of quality glass to ensure successful and safe administration of the COVID 19 vaccines. Despite the challenges faced, our India plant has operated in full capacity within strict safety guidelines, while supporting our global clients and growing workforce.”

The success of the COVID-19 response is supported by the company’s multi-year, $1 billion global investment in pharmaceutical glass and packaging facilities announced early 2019 in response to rising worldwide demand for safer drug packaging. Despite the pandemic, all expansion projects are on track.