BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WENY) -- As the nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the heat is on to develop a vaccine to combat the virus. In preparation for the day the vaccine is found and ready to be distributed to the global community, Corning Incorporated has been mass-producing pharmaceutical-grade vials right in Big Flats New York. These vials are made of Valor Glass, the first glass of its kind to serve the pharmaceutical community. 

"So Valor Glass is the first glass specifically designed for pharmaceuticals so it was engineered here at Corning, keeping the industry issues in mind. So it is a more chemically durable glass composition, so it is a new glass composition that is more chemically durable. It is also a strengthened glass and so it goes through that same process of ion-exchange that Gorilla Glass goes through," says Allison Matusick, the Global Accounts Manager for Corning Pharmaceutical Technology. 

When the vaccine is created and ready to distribute, Valor Glass will be responsible for holding and transporting the medication. Corning Inc. was chosen by the federal government for its sturdy pharmaceutical glass, meant to withstand production and shipping without undergoing damage. 

"We are excited that we were chosen by the Department of Health and Human Services and BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) for that investment to accelerate our capacity and have this glass available for the COVID vaccine and for other needs that are out there."

The glass was created at Corning's Big Flats facility, which was deemed as an essential business during the pandemic as the company works to produce enough vials to have ready once a vaccine is ready.

"This plant has remained open throughout the bringing of the quarantine period and in addition to this investment form BARDA and the acceleration in that ramp up. So with that ramp comes growth and opportunity and new jobs here as well," says Matusick. 

To keep up with the increased demand for Valor Glass, the 90 jobs were created at the Corning Inc. Big Flats plant. 

"So we received as 204 million dollar investment from BARDA for Corning Inc to ramp up our capacity and accelerate to be able to provide vials for COVID vaccines."

Corning officials told WENY News that Valor Glass was chosen over other products on the market, because of its advanced chemical makeup and structure. 

"So Valor Glass is a tubular glass, so it's made from a tubular cane and then it's formed through a flame to make it into the shape of a vial. Then and so with the tube itself, it's that new glass composition that's more chemically durable and then after it's formed into a vial, it goes through the process of ion exchange. So that is a chemical strengthening process and it's actually the same chemical strengthening process as what's used for Gorilla Glass."

Not only is the tough exterior important for the transportation of the vaccine to prevent breakage, but the internal makeup is equally as important. 

"From a chemical durability standpoint, you want the drug interaction with the glass to have at least interaction possible so that the drug remains stable in there and is safe to give to the patients. From a mechanical durability standpoint, you want the glass to be strong so you don't see that breakage on the line, you don't get the cracks that you can get so that the drug product remains sterile and also to that faster speed really helps get that drug product out the door."

Matusick was able to demonstrate WENY News the difference between other companies vials compared to theirs with not only visual differences but also audible. 

"One of the ways we can show this is actually by rubbing glass together, and so these are conventional vials like what has typically  been used in the pharmaceutical industry today, and if you rub them together, you can actually hear the noise that they make and when you rub it, you can feel that they are rubbing together because of the high point of friction there.  But with Valor Glass with it's exterior coating, it is much more smooth, so as you rub it together, you can see here that it's going much more smoothly and this is demonstrating how much more smoothly it can run through the filling line and so particularly for the COVID vaccine, the pharmaceutical companies are excited about this is they'll be able to get that vaccine out the door much more quickly so they are able to manufacture it more quickly  and then get it to us  so that we can get that vaccine."

 As far as the COVID-19 Vaccine goes, medical researchers are still working through development and trials but hope to have an effective vaccine by the end of 2020.