Why Lyophilisation Training Courses Are A Lab Essential
Having well trained and informed personnel for your lyophilisation processing helps ensure the best results for your projects, productivity and pocket.
Training in any field is essential for new comers and hugely beneficial for those who have been working in an industry for any length of time in terms of refreshing knowledge in-line with the most up to date techniques and technology, but it is often considered a ‘luxury’ that can be set aside due to the time and cost that accompanies it. While there is always the ability to learn on the job either from researching the subject yourself or being trained by a colleague, this doesn’t ensure that you will be acquiring the most up to date, or in some cases, even the correct information.
Many companies have been using lyophilisation technologies for decades without questioning inherited formulations or cycles; it isn’t uncommon to find that an organization has used one formulation for several cycles! In other words, ‘…this is how we have always done it…’ is the method of teaching and although this may be a more convenient option, it isn’t the best way to teach your employees and stay competitive in an increasingly technology, and high productivity driven industry environment.
Lyophilisation is a complex science and as a result, personnel with extensive freeze drying experience are very rare in the industry. In addition to the rarity of experts in the field, the equipment necessary to freeze dry is a significant investment for any lab and/or business due to the pharma/ biotech industry being heavily regulated from a quality perspective. Learning the intricacies of the technology to the fullest extent will not only result in getting the best out of the equipment and producing the best product results in the most efficient amount of time, but will also make this process as economical and profitable as possible which is the ultimate goal in any organisation.
Lyophilisation or the freeze drying of products is used in many areas of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in particular as a means to preserve and maintain long term viability of the API. This process is a way to create a consistent, stable, storable product which renders an efficient and economical process for many organisations. However, this technique is extremely complicated and to render these advantages, the training of both the science and engineering of lyophilisation is critical.
Products’ reactions to lyophilisation can vary greatly and each API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) may need a different excipient blend in order to produce the best and most robust result. Additionally, in order to define the optimum formulation and freeze drying cycle for your product, analysis is beneficial as it helps define the critical temperatures and pressures that create the finest, most reliable and efficient process. As many companies still work on the basis of ‘…this is how we have always done it…’ it is apparent that they are not aware of, or haven’t thoroughly considered the advantages of embracing technological advances and possibilities available to improve not only process, but product and bottom line. This is where the value of training is most apparent. If your organisation is willing to make the capital investment for lyophilisation equipment, doesn’t it make sense to educate the users involved too?
Utilising the machinery to its maximum potential, both during its daily operations and through regular maintenance will not only ensure the accurate results but is also financially sensible as this will limit, if not stop, mechanical downtime and breakdowns from occurring.
One of the reoccurring issues encountered within the industry is the movement of labour as often the people with the extensive knowledge surrounding the subject, move on to other companies or positions, taking this knowledge with them. As lyophilisation is such a specialised area within the pharma/ biotech industry, the number of experts with significant working knowledge of its complexities is slim which often means that those inheriting the position, could have very little or no knowledge, or worse still at the mercy of misconceptions about lyophilisation. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Biopharma is well placed in running lyophilisation technology specific training programmes for engineering groups as well as the science and technology teams. Biopharma offers regularly scheduled courses each year and have multiple options to choose from including customised courses to ensure that your training needs are met.
Training course options include:
On-site customised training presents the perfect opportunity for a company that is looking for instruction in the field of lyophilisation to create a programme specific to their individual operation. Our lecturers will travel to your site and deliver presentations to your team in their own working environment, allowing the chance to discuss with complete confidentiality details of products you are working with as well as particular issues that may arise. Face to face interaction is by far the best and most effective method to deliver material because it engages the audience, producing the best results. This particular option is most suitable for a company that has a good number of people in one particular location that need to be on the same page at the same time.
The Customised Webinar could be the ideal solution for organisations that have locations around the world that need to be at the same level of education. The webinar is a live, interactive, tailored training programme that reaches many locations simultaneously. As there is no need to travel, the cost becomes much more favourable yet you are still receiving the value of expert instruction directed to your own operation. This customised webinar course means that the programme is tailored for the customer, covering topics from the fundamentals to addressing very specific and complex issues. It is completely confidential and therefore a conduit to discuss information with total security.
Scheduled Courses are the option that Biopharma offers throughout the year in the UK, Europe and the USA. This is the most accessible choice as it is open to anyone to attend. The programme is designed to provide delegates with in-depth, up-to-date and practical information appropriate for any kind of lyophilisation as it intended to be a general education which can be applied to specific situations. They are the ideal way to bring newcomers up to speed, or to build a greater depth of understanding for existing practitioners.
Before deciding which training course is right for you, it is helpful to consider:
- Lyophilisation/ freeze drying is an extremely complex science with very few experienced, expert personnel able to teach it
- There is no such thing as a ‘one cycle fits all’ when it comes to lyophilisation
- Mobility of your personnel
- The pharma/ biotech industry is tightly regulated so best practise can save time and money
- There have been advances in technology to improve old formulations which many people are unaware of
- Well trained maintenance and engineering departments can help eliminate possible downtime of equipment
- Well trained personnel can identify and address specific issues companies might be experiencing in the manufacturing process
- Global companies may need to educate specific groups simultaneously
