Scientist discovers molecule migration from label to drug

While analysing stability data of a particularly potent drug stored inside an HDPE bottle, a scientist at US contract manufacturer Metrics discovered an unexpected trend.

While analysing stability data of a particularly potent drug stored inside an HDPE bottle, a scientist at US contract manufacturer Metrics discovered an unexpected trend.

Deanna Williamson found that a benzophenone molecule, a compound that is often used in the varnish coating of a bottle’s label, had travelled through the label and the bottle before coming to rest on a tablet inside.

Although the pharmaceutical industry has long been aware of the ability of some molecules to migrate and this particular molecule was not toxic at the levels seen in Williamson’s stability data, she was concerned about the discovery.

‘In this situation, the active ingredient was an agent that needed to be measured using an especially sensitive analytical method,’ she said.

‘Someone making a typical OTC drug product may not employ the same sensitive level of testing, so it's probable that the levels of benzophenone present in those products would go undetected durin