Glass-Related Drug Recalls Decline After Industry Improves Practices

The number of sterile drug recalls from glass delamination, breakage and other sources of contamination has dropped dramatically since 2010, with the exception of several spikes in 2013 and 2014. FDA and other officials attribute the drop to better risk assessments and fuller evaluations of product formulations' interactions with container closure systems. The industry is also exploring the use of a new, reportedly sturdier type of glass vial that eliminates delamination.