QR & D Code

For three decades the Formulation Unit has been researching, developing and manufacturing drugs for Cancer Research UK's clinical trials. During that time they have adopted new techniques, moved location and adapted to EU regulations. Images from the Unit's past are arranged as a ‘qr collage'; which links to the group's website, and describes the history behind the pictures used.

 

 

Clockwise from the top panel:

1: Flame sealer. Originally glass ampoules were filled with drug solution and sealed manually using a hot natural gas/oxygen flame. This was a skilled task, but limited the number of ampoules that could be made in one day. The group still maintains the equipment and skills to ‘hand seal', but in 2008 started using an automated filling and sealing machine allowing larger batch sizes. (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)

2: Vial stoppering. Drug product is often filled into glass vials, which need to be stoppered to make sure the product stays protected. This process in now automated, but when done by hand the operator used sterile tweezers to ensure the stopper remained completely clean. (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)

3: Mass spectrometer. This picture shows the ionisation chamber of a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (or LCMS for short). Purchased in 2006 this equipment allows us to work out the molecular structure of unknown compounds, which are often low level impurities being investigated for the first time. The LCMS is one of several pieces of analytical lab equipment we have available. (Picture by Steven Ford, Research Fellow)

4: Freeze drier. The Formulation Unit manufactures products in a cleanroom, one of which leads onto a large ‘freeze drier'. Built in Spain, this picture was taken during pre-installation checks in the factory: it would not be possible to ‘re-take' this picture since the door is now built into a flexible isolator. The mirrored effect on the door comes from the medical grade ‘316' polished stainless steel construction. (Picture by Gavin Halbert, Professor)

5: Manufactured product: The products manufactured by the Formulation Unit are new, and there is no information on the shelf life. Drugs need to stay within an established specification for as long as they are used in clinic: our labs analyse new drugs over several years as various different temperatures to confirm that the products used in clinical trials have not degraded. (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)

6: Building shell. For the first 25 years the Formulation Unit was based in the Royal College, just off Glasgow George Square. Originally built as a joint venture between the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences on the charity Cancer Research Campaign (the forerunner of Cancer Research UK), the former share was ‘spun out' as a full commercial company and is now based in the West of Scotland Science Park. In 2008 the Unit moved to it current location in the new Robertson building. This photograph was taken of the vacant floor space before the new facility was built. (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)

7: Freezed dried vials. Freeze drying, or lyophilising, is a standard method for producing a dry, stable drug product. Water is often the main cause of chemical degradation, and so a drug ‘powder' is produced by filling a vial with a solution of drug, then removing all the water by ‘freezing' it and ‘drying' under a strong vacuum. This is a similar process to the one used to make ‘instant coffee': in fact in the 1980's the Unit's first freeze drier was rented by a coffee company to help develop a new product! (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)

8: Drug products. The Formulation Unit stores drug products ready for shipment to hospitals taking part in clinical trials. As with many other aspects of the groups activities, the regulations and requirements associated with this job have increased over the last 30 years. The Formulation Unit ships under proven cold storage conditions, with a tracking system that allows the team to monitor supply on a batch-by-batch basis. (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)

9: SIPBS. The Formulation Unit is part of the Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Science (SIPBS), which encompasses research and teaching remits. Formulation Unit staff teach in both undergraduate and postgraduate course, and publish academic papers. This photograph is of the new Hamnett wing of the SIPBS facility. (Picture by Steven Ford, Research Fellow)

10: Capsules. In the last few years the Formulation Unit has seen a marked increase in the number of capsule products being manufactured. They have the advantages of being more convienient for patients to take, but often require several different ‘strengths' of capsule being required for one trial, thereby increasing the amount of work done in our production and laboratory facilities. (Picture by Graeme Fleming, University photographer)