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More and more sophisticated, the new drugs require high quality packaging with the least possible interaction with active components. The choice of packaging material is a main concern to offer optimal protection to these new molecules. As a material of choice in pharmaceutical packaging, glass has unique neutral qualities. Three types of glass are currently provided to pharmaceutical companies: type III, II, I glass or neutral glass. Type I, a borosilicate glass, is ideally suited for delicate products requiring stability and for injectables. However, exchanges do occur. The glass releases aluminium which can alter acid-based preparations (pH > 7).

At the end of 1998, Saint-Gobain Desjonquères launched a new type I glass with an aluminium content of 2 % instead of 6 %. "This was in answer to the needs of the American market. The development of this glass took 5 years" explained Laurent Zuber, Sales and Marketing manager of the Pharmacy division of Saint-Gobain Desjonquères (Saint-Gobain Desjonqueres Pharmaceutical Division). This new type I glass will be from now on the standard neutral glass.