Patent ID: 6907679

Claim:
A method for lyophilizing a solution containing about 38 mg/ml of leuprolide acetate, the method comprising: depositing the solution into one or more containers; positioning a covering plate comprising one or more protuberances projecting from a surface to align with an opening of the one or more containers, the one or more protuberances adapted to fit inside at least a portion of the one or more containers; covering the one or more containers with the covering plate before placing the one or more containers and the covering plate inside a lyophilizing apparatus or covering the one or more containers with the covering plate after placing the one or more containers and the covering plate inside the lyophilizing apparatus, the one or more projecting protuberances engaged inside the at least a portion of the one or more containers; and at least partially lyophilizing the solution by cooling the solution and applying a vacuum to the solution, wherein at least partially lyophilizing the solution allows vapor to escape through an annular gap between each of the one or more protuberances and a side wall of each of the one or more containers.