Oxygen for Covid-19 vaccines and patient care

Article ZEIT-supplement "Future Medicine" 25. March 2021

Interview with Horst Nowosad, Sales and Project Engineer at Inmatec

Medical oxygen is used in emergency care and vaccine production. With their own O₂ generation, hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers secure supplies and reduce costs.

Mr. Nowosad, Inmatec GaseTechnologie is a leading manufacturer of oxygen and nitrogen generators. What developments do you see in the area of oxygen production since the beginning of the corona pandemic?

Medical oxygen is of enormous importance in coping with the corona crisis. Right from the start, it was used to ventilate patients around the world. Due to the increased demand, there was a supply bottleneck that continues in many countries. That has led to a rethink. Securing the oxygen supply has moved into the focus of health systems.

What has changed in thinking?

The pandemic has shown that the O₂ supply cannot be ensured everywhere via a central supply. In the future, it is to be supported in a decentralized manner via in-house production. Numerous governments have taken appropriate measures, from changing regulations to direct investments in O₂ production facilities. In 2020 we saw a significant increase in worldwide orders, especially from Peru, Great Britain, India and the Arab countries.

How does the on-site oxygen production work?

Our POC Med generators generate oxygen directly from the ambient air with the help of PSA technology. The medical oxygen produced has a purity of 95% and can be used as an approved finished medicinal product in hospitals for patient care. That way they protect themselves against delivery bottlenecks and save up to 60% of the costs.

What is medical oxygen needed for in vaccine development?

In the fight against SARS-CoV-2, in particular genetic vaccines, live and dead vaccines as well as vector vaccines play a role. This requires the cultivation of bacteria or cell cultures. With their help, the components of the vaccine are manufactured on an industrial scale. They are grown in bioreactors and, in addition to a special nutrient solution, primarily require oxygen, which must meet the high requirements for vaccine development.

What requirements must the generators meet?

Vaccines are subject to strict approval criteria. Their production is a strictly controlled process to ensure safe use on humans. Inmatec POC Med Generators are designed according to strict quality management specifications and certified in accordance with the Medical Device Directive 93/42 / EEC. The oxygen quality corresponds to the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia for medical applications and can therefore also be used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

Published in ZEIT-supplement Future Medicine, 25. March 2021