How Ego Pharmaceuticals Cut Hands-On Analyst Time by 92%

Ego Pharmaceuticals Publishes Three Validated Automated Analytical Workflows Developed in Partnership with METTLER TOLEDO and ePrep, Delivering Up to 92% Reduction in Analyst Time and 84% Cut in Solvent Consumption

Melbourne (AUS), Nänikon (CH), 03 2026 - Ego Pharmaceuticals, METTLER TOLEDO, and ePrep today announced the publication of three fully validated, pharmacopeial-equivalent automated analytical workflows for pharmaceutical quality control testing, developed collaboratively by the three organizations.

The workflows - covering polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) determination in liquid paraffin and petroleum jelly by UV/Vis spectrophotometry, and glycerin assay by precision titration - collectively demonstrate reductions in hands-on analyst time of up to 92%, solvent consumption reductions of up to 84%, and measurable improvements in analytical precision over manual methods.

All three workflows are validated to British Pharmacopoeia (BP), European Pharmacopoeia (EP), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph standards, and operate under CFR Part 21 Part 11-compliant software with complete digital audit trail from sample weighing to final result.

Background
Ego Pharmaceuticals, celebrating its 73rd year of operation, is one of Australia's leading manufacturers of dermatological and topical pharmaceutical products. The company's QC laboratory is responsible for the release testing of a broad portfolio of products built on pharmaceutical-grade excipients - including liquid paraffin, petroleum jelly, and glycerin - that require rigorous compendial testing to BP, EP, and USP standards.

The automated workflow program was initiated following a commitment to three strategic objectives: maximizing laboratory efficiency and cost-effectiveness; advancing sustainability and green chemistry; and driving continuous innovation. The program has developed through a unique collaboration with Monash University, under which undergraduate and master's students contributed to method development and optimization as part of a supervised industry placement program.

Key Results

Application Matrix Analytical Method Hands-on Reduction Solvent Reduction
PAH Determination Liquid Paraffin UV/Vis (ePrep ONE + UV7) ↓ 92%
↓ 80%

PAH Determination Petroleum Jelly UV/Vis (ePrep ONE + UV7) ↓ 92%
↓ 84%

Glycerin Assay Glycerin (BP/EP/USP) Titration (ePrep ONE + T5 + LabX) ↓ 92%
↓ 58%

In addition to efficiency gains, validation data confirmed that the automated extraction method for glycerin improved analytical repeatability by 48% compared to the manual method (%RSD 0.76% vs 1.45%), with intermediate precision confirmed across two independent analysts. Significant reductions in out-of-specification events have been observed across all transferred automated applications.

Recognition
In late 2025, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) presented Helen Evans-Lemmo with its Victorian Branch Industry Mentor of the Year Award, recognizing her coordination of the Ego / Monash University student placement program and her commitment to publishing the students' scientific contributions in peer-reviewed application notes.

Sustainability Impact
The three automated workflows together represent a significant advance in laboratory sustainability. Cumulative solvent savings across routine testing of liquid paraffin, petroleum jelly, and glycerin translate directly into reduced procurement of hazardous chemicals and substantially lower volumes of specialist waste for disposal. The ePrep ONE's stainless-steel needle technology eliminates single-use plastic pipette tips across all liquid-handling steps. Reductions in OOS events reduce the frequency of repeat testing and associated reagent consumption. The program aligns with the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry and positions Ego as a leader in sustainable pharmaceutical QC practice.

"The question we asked ourselves was simple: not whether our existing processes were working, but whether they could work significantly better. The answer, backed by three published and validated automated methods, is a clear yes. Automation doesn't replace analytical expertise - it directs it where it adds most value."

- Helen Evans-Lemmo, Instrumentation Specialist, Ego Pharmaceuticals

Read more:
https://www.mt.com/global/en/home/library/stories/lab-analytical-instruments/how-ego-pharmaceuticals-transformed-lab-automation.html

Mettler-Toledo Technologies GmbH
Anika Adams
Heuwinkelstrasse 3
8606 Nänikon
Switzerland
anika.adams@mt.com

About METTLER TOLEDO
METTLER TOLEDO is a global leader in precision instruments and services. We are renowned for innovation and quality across laboratory, process analytics, industrial, product inspection, and retailing applications. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries, and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. For more information, please visit www.mt.com.

About Ego Pharmaceuticals
Proudly Australian owned, Ego Pharmaceuticals has led the way in the development, manufacture and marketing of innovative skincare products since our inception in 1953. We exist for people who want healthy skin, and are proud to be specialists in dermatological skincare that is backed by science. Our products are made in Australia for the people of the world, and are underpinned by Ego's heritage and integrity. That's why millions of people trust Ego to help care for their skin every day. www.egopharm.com

About ePrep
ePrep Pty Ltd is an Australian analytical instrumentation company specializing in automated sample preparation for pharmaceutical and analytical laboratories. The ePrep ONE Sample Preparation Workstation is a CFR Part 11-validated, syringe-based automated liquid handling platform designed for precise, reproducible sample extraction workflows. www.eprep-analytical.com

This release was published on openPR.