West and Amgen sign Crystal Zenith evaluation deal

West Pharmaceutical Services has inked a deal with Amgen to evaluate its Crystal Zenith technology for drug containment.

Crystal Zenith was developed by Daikyo Seiko, a partner of West, to avoid problems associated with using glass vials. Amgen encountered these shortcomings in 2010 when a recall of vials containing glass flakes cost it tens of millions of dollars.

Biopharmaceutical therapeutic products require a drug container that enables safe, effective and reliable containment,” Donald Morel, CEO of West, said. Amgen and West have a long-standing relationship and the Crystal Zenith deal builds on their earlier business dealings.