Terminally sterilizing pharmaceutical package

Abstract

The present invention relates to a terminally sterilized package containing a liquid pharmaceutical, and comprising a receptacle having an opening therein for receiving the pharmaceutical and a closure adhered to the opening, wherein at least the interior surface of the receptacle is made of perfluoropolymer.

1 . Terminally sterilized package defining a container for liquid pharmaceutical and containing said pharmaceutical, said container comprising a receptacle having an opening for receiving said pharmaceutical and a closure for said opening, at least the interior surface of said receptacle is essentially perfluoropolymer.  
   
   
       2 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein said container also contains water.  
   
   
       3 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface of said closure is essentially perfluoropolymer.  
   
   
       4 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 3  wherein said closure is peelable from said opening in said receptacle.  
   
   
       5 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein the amount of said pharmaceutical present in said container is a single dose.  
   
   
       6 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein said essentially perfluoropolymer is selected from the group consisting of non-melt-fabricable modified-polytetrafluoroethylene and melt-fabricable essentially perfluoropolymer.  
   
   
       7 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 3  wherein said receptacle formed from a single layer thickness of said essentially perfluoropolymer.  
   
   
       8 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 3  wherein said peelable closure is a laminate comprising a metal foil and a coating of said essentially perfluoropolymer adhered to said metal foil, said coating being heat sealed to said opening.  
   
   
       9 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 8  wherein said coating of essentially perfluoropolymer is adhered to said metal foil through an adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface of said closure is a non-perfluorinated polymer.  
   
   
       11 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein said pharmaceutical is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical.  
   
   
       12 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 1  wherein a medical device is also present in said container.  
   
   
       13 . The terminally sterilized package of  claim 12  wherein said medical device is an absorbent contact lens.  
   
   
       14 . Process for terminally sterilizing a liquid pharmaceutical while minimizing therapeutic loss thereof, comprising providing a container for said liquid pharmaceutical, said container comprising a receptacle having an opening for receiving said liquid pharmaceutical and a closure for said opening, adding said liquid pharmaceutical to said receptacle, applying said closure to said opening thereby forming said package, and sterilizing said package and thereby said liquid pharmaceutical within said package, the interior surface of at least said receptacle being made of essentially perfluoropolymer, whereby said liquid pharmaceutical is not absorbed by said receptacle during said sterilization.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 14  comprising further adding a medical device to said receptacle prior to applying said closure to said opening.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein said medical device is an absorbent contact lens.