US glass manufacturer Corning and French glass-packaging company SGD Pharma announced a joint venture to open a glass tubing facility and establish converting lines to produce vials based on Corning’s ‘velocity vial’ technology platform in Telangana.

The companies expect manufacturing of velocity vials at SGD Pharma’s facility at Vemula in Mahabubnagar district, Telangana, to begin in 2024. Pharmaceutical tubing production is expected to begin in 2025.

The investment would be “significant” in the range of “tens of millions of dollars”, the companies said, but did not disclose any specific numbers, including proposed capacities, citing “confidentiality”.

The JV will combine SGD Pharma’s vial-converting expertise with Corning’s velocity vial platform. It intends to localise the supply chains and enable easier adoption of the technology by pharma customers.

Velocity vials are type-I borosilicate vials with low-friction coating that will improve fill-finish productivity by 50% and enhance product quality, lowering manufacturing costs and speeding the delivery of injectable therapies.

As Indian drug makers scale up production of lifesaving treatments and critical drugs like biopharmaceuticals and complex injectables, they are looking for packaging solutions that will help deal with tighter regulations, achieve manufacturing efficiencies, increase shelf life and stability.

SGD Pharma, which is predominantly a moulded glass packaging manufacturer, is trying to expand to tubular vials that are being fast adopted by pharmaceutical companies because of higher consistency in both appearance and fill capacity. The JV with Corning will help in that transition. SGD produces more than 8 million vials every day from five plants in France, Germany, India and China.

The new one will be Corning’s second manufacturing unit in India. Its current plant at Chakan in Maharashtra makes optical fibre.

Corning’s velocity vials have been extensively used for packaging of Covid vaccines globally.

“The introduction of Velocity Vials will contribute to the ongoing evolution of our offerings and services and will expand our portfolio of high-quality tubular glass packaging,” said Olivier Rousseau, CEO SGD Pharma.

“We see an opportunity for the industry to improve drug filling quality and performance capabilities by transitioning to Corning’s coated vial technology,” Rousseau said.

“Corning is committed to playing a vital role in India’s ambitious vision of becoming self-reliant and fostering sustainable growth,” said Ron Verkleeren, senior vice president and general manager of Corning’s Life Sciences Market Access Platform.

“By leveraging our technological expertise, innovation, and strategic partnerships, we are dedicated to supporting India’s new phase of growth. We recognize the importance of making in India, for India, and for the rest of the world,” Verkleeren added.