Oxygen permeation and microbial ingress through a film-coated and uncoated elastomeric closure in A glass vial: a comparative study.

This is a comparative study of oxygen permeation and microbial ingress into a drug vial stopper that is an elastomeric pharmaceutical compound versus the same compound coated with a thin Teflon-type film coating. The objective of this study is to determine if the film coating causes any changes in the rate of oxygen permeation or microbial ingress into the vial from the environment. From the data obtained it is concluded that the film did not change either the oxygen or microbial ingress into the vial; therefore the stoppers are essentially equivalent with respect to these parameters.

The Mectizan Donation Programme--a 10-year report.

In the 10 years since 1987 when Merck & Co. announced a plan to donate its safe and effective microfilaricide, Mectizan (ivermectin, MSD), to treat onchocerciasis wherever and for as long as needed, more than 96 million treatments have been enabled in community-based treatment programmes in all 34 countries, in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where the disease is endemic. It is expected that donations enabling some 33 million treatments will be approved in 1997.