SCHOTT Pharma is a leading global provider of pharmaceutical packaging solutions, specialising in primary drug containment solutions and delivery systems for injectable medications. Headquartered in Mainz, Germany, and operating in 14 countries, the company leverages more than a century of expertise in glass science and engineering to serve pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients worldwide.
With 100 years of experience, SCHOTT Pharma offers an extensive product portfolio, including vials, syringes, cartridges, and ampoules, while upholding uncompromising quality and continuous innovation.
Advanced primary packaging portfolio for injectable drug products
SCHOTT Pharma’s core business is manufacturing advanced primary packaging for injectable drug products. The portfolio is divided into Drug Containment Solutions (e.g. vials, cartridges, ampoules) and Drug Delivery Systems (prefillable syringes and related devices).
All products are made to stringent quality standards using high-performance materials like Type I borosilicate glass and medical-grade cyclic olefin copolymer.
Prefillable Syringes
Prefillable syringes (PFS) serve as both the storage container and the delivery device for injectable drugs, supplied sterile and ready to fill. SCHOTT Pharma offers PFS in premium glass (the syriQ® line) as well as in advanced polymer (the SCHOTT TOPPAC® range). These syringes provide a highly stable, long-term drug storage solution and enable safe, convenient injections for patients and caregivers.
Whether made from glass or cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) polymer, the syringes are engineered to maintain drug stability (even for sensitive biologics or vaccines) and to withstand special conditions like deep-cold storage for mRNA-based therapies.
By eliminating most preparation steps (the syringe is pre-sterilised and ready to use), these systems help reduce the risk of dosing errors, contamination, and drug waste during administration.
Examples
- syriQ® – ready-to-use glass syringe line for vaccines and biologics, featuring a syriQ® Rigid Cap (SRC) closure for secure sealing. The syriQ® platform is continually refined to meet evolving needs – from traditional vaccines to breakthrough mRNA therapies.
- SCHOTT TOPPAC® – a family of COC polymer syringes offering break-resistant, silicone oil-free options ideal for sensitive drugs. Specialised versions such as SCHOTT TOPPAC® freeze are designed for deep-cold storage (down to –80 °C) of advanced therapies, while TOPPAC® sensitive caters to drugs that cannot contact silicone lubricants.
Cartridges
Pharmaceutical cartridges are small cylindrical containers (for devices like pen injectors and pumps) that enable accurate multi-dose delivery. Crafted from high-quality glass tubing, SCHOTT Pharma’s cartridges are known for robust construction and exceptionally accurate dosing performance.
They fit a wide range of injection devices to ensure smooth operation and patient safety. SCHOTT Pharma provides ready-to-use cartridges under its cartriQ® brand, including specialised designs for different drug requirements. For instance, double-chamber cartridges allow convenient reconstitution of lyophilised drugs, and break-resistant cartridges withstand high pressure or shock during use.
Standard cartridges come in various sizes and can be delivered sterile to streamline filling operations. With precision manufacturing and strict tolerances, these cartridges deliver consistent doses and integrate seamlessly into devices like insulin pens or auto-injectors.
Vials
Glass vials are a cornerstone of SCHOTT Pharma’s product range, used to contain injectable liquids, lyophilised drugs, and vaccines. SCHOTT Pharma’s vials are made from Type I borosilicate glass, offering high chemical resistance to minimise drug-container interactions. This ensures that medications – including sensitive biologics – remain stable over shelf life without significant leachables or pH shifts.
The vials have tight dimensional tolerances and superior cosmetic quality to support efficient high-speed filling and secure container closure integrity. For example, the adaptiQ® system provides ready-to-use vials in nest-and-tub formats for streamlined fill-finish processing.
SCHOTT Pharma has also developed innovative vial solutions under its EVERIC® family to meet specialised needs. EVERIC® vials feature ultra-clean inner surfaces and other enhancements to improve drug stability and safety.
For instance, EVERIC® pure vials have a homogeneous inner glass surface for unmatched drug stability. There are also variants for specific applications under the EVERIC® concept – for example, vials for deep-frozen biologics, highly sensitive formulations, or unique identifiers to support track-and-trace of individual containers. This modular approach helps clients choose optimal vials for their needs while ensuring compatibility with standard filling lines.
Ampoules
SCHOTT Pharma produces classic glass ampoules, reflecting the company’s long heritage. Ampoules are sealed single-dose containers opened by breaking the neck. SCHOTT Pharma’s ampoules are made from Type I glass with high chemical resistance and precise dimensions, ensuring drug stability until the point of use. The company also offers safety-enhanced versions: easyOPC ampoules have a scored neck for easier, controlled opening, and Anti-Counterfeiting (AC) ampoules use unique ring markings to deter tampering and fraud.
Client support packaging services and solutions
Beyond its products, SCHOTT Pharma offers value-added services to support clients from early drug development through commercialisation. Experts assist with everything from packaging design and material selection to laboratory analytics and regulatory filings, ensuring the packaging works optimally with the drug and meets compliance requirements. The company also emphasises sustainability in packaging, collaborating with customers to reduce carbon footprint and adopt eco-friendly practices.
SCHOTT Pharma addresses emerging industry challenges through targeted packaging solutions aligned with current trends. For example, as biologic drugs and biosimilars become more common, the company drives container innovation to maintain their stability (minimising glass delamination, protein interactions, etc.).
It has also developed solutions for mRNA vaccines and other therapies requiring low-temperature storage, ensuring containers withstand ultra-cold conditions and freeze–thaw cycles without integrity loss. To facilitate self-administration, SCHOTT Pharma provides options for delivering large-volume biologics – such as optimised polymer syringe systems – that accommodate high-viscosity drugs and enable high-speed, quality-consistent filling.
Through continuous innovation in these areas, SCHOTT Pharma serves as a strategic partner to drug makers, helping overcome packaging hurdles as new therapies come to market.
Commitment to primary packaging quality and innovation
SCHOTT Pharma prides itself on quality and technical innovation. All products are manufactured under rigorous quality management, with state-of-the-art automation and inspection ensuring consistency.
For example, SCHOTT Pharma’s syringe lines undergo 100% camera inspection to achieve extremely low defect rates, supporting an efficient fill-and-finish process. Backed by a deep research and development (R&D) heritage, the company continually improves materials and designs – from ultra-pure vial coatings to digital traceability features. Today, SCHOTT Pharma remains at the forefront of primary packaging technology.
