Injection Devices
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION – Which Trends Will Have the Most Impact on Drug Development in 2023?
Contributor Cindy H. Dubin posed this question to life science leaders during a recent roundtable discussion, and one common theme is the focus on sustainability in pharmaceutical development.
2023 COMPANY PROFILES & CAPABILITIES
For each participating company, this section presents a detailed summary highlighting their core technologies, capabilities, technologies, and services.
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW – Owen Mumford & Stevanato Group: Collaborating to Produce Aidaptus® Auto-injector
Michael Earl, Director of Pharmaceutical Services at Owen Mumford, and Steven Kaufman, Vice President for Drug Delivery Systems at Stevanato Group, discuss their collaboration in producing the innovative Aidaptus auto-injector.
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW – Credence MedSystems: Implementing a Flexible Manufacturing Line to Deliver Innovation in Drug Delivery to the Pharmaceutical Industry
Jeffrey Tillack, Chief Operating Officer at Credence MedSystems, discusses the challenges being addressed by his innovative technology and the role its new Flex Line will play in the company’s scaling strategy.
WHITEPAPER – Launching a Drug-Device Combination: 5 Key Factors to Focus On
Going to market in a delivery device is one of the most complex steps in the life cycle of an injectable medication. A CDMO expert explains where to start and what to prepare for.
SPECIAL FEATURE – Injection Devices: Three Trends Influencing Development & Delivery
Contributor Cindy H. Dubin showcases in this annual feature how various innovative device manufacturers are addressing the current trends in their injection designs.
2022 Respiratory Drug Development eBook – Demand Accelerates Devices
This fourth annual Drug Development & Delivery Respiratory eBook highlights the pMDI development path, as well as the importance of a holistic approach to that development that includes the patient and all stakeholders across the product’s life cycle.
AUTOINJECTOR TECHNOLOGY – De-risking Biosimilar Development With a Clinically Validated & Commercially Proven Disposable Autoinjector
Victoria Meyer, MBA, explains how for many biopharmaceutical customers, BD and the BD Physioject™ Disposable Autoinjector have offered the appropriate combination of technology, documentation, and resources required for timely success.
WEBINAR – Understanding Patch Composition for Effective Transdermal Delivery
As the advantages of transdermal drug delivery grow, the global market for transdermal patches also is growing. Join DuPont™ Liveo™ Healthcare Solutions and Gattefossé Pharmaceuticals for a complimentary one-hour webinar to explore the current….
SPECIAL FEATURE – PFS & Parenteral Drug Delivery: Self-Injection is Very Much the “New Normal”
Contributor Cindy H. Dubin showcases how leading CDMOs and drug delivery developers are responding to current market trends to create ergonomic technologies that are patient friendly, easy to use, reduce needle anxiety, and feature improved packaging materials.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT

Stevanato Group Presents Versatile On-Body Delivery System Platform for a Wide Range of Injectable Therapies & for Large Delivery Volumes
The company offers the platform as a readily customizable pre-filled and pre-loaded on-body solution for drug delivery. Device development is making significant progress, with samples expected to be available in 2023…..

Needle-Free Vaccine Delivery Platform Aims to End Frozen Storage Needs & Improve Access
aVaxziPen’s innovative vaccine delivery platform aims to improve access to vaccines by removing the need for frozen storage and enabling easier distribution and deployment….

Viridian Therapeutics Announces Partnership With Drug Delivery Innovator Enable Injections
Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced a new partnership with Enable Injections, a company developing and manufacturing the enFuse innovative wearable drug delivery system for….

First on the Market: Safely Storing Deep-Cold Medications With Prefillable Polymer Syringes From SCHOTT Pharma
SCHOTT Pharma’s prefillable polymer syringes are a trailblazing solution for drug applications that need to be stored and transported on dry ice at temperatures approaching -100°C…..

Vetter Expands Production Capacities & Services at its Austrian Site
Vetter continues to drive the expansion of capacities and services for the provision of clinical trial materials. With the implementation of additional equipment for aseptic production and the expansion of storage….
MARKET NEWS & TRENDS
WEBINARS

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR – Solve Common Design Challenges in Inhalation Devices With Porous Polymers
The effectiveness of inhalation devices relies on their ability to deliver the pharmaceutical directly to the targeted part of the body with precision and calculated dosing. Since these devices….

WEBINAR – Understanding Patch Composition for Effective Transdermal Delivery
As the advantages of transdermal drug delivery grow, the global market for transdermal patches also is growing. Join DuPont™ Liveo™ Healthcare Solutions and Gattefossé Pharmaceuticals for a complimentary one-hour webinar to explore the current….

On Demand Webinar – Emergent CDMO: High-Speed Manufacturing Solutions for Your Viral Vaccine or Therapeutic
Emergent and groniger partner to present the benefits and features of the INTEGRA® high-speed aseptic fill line with isolator technology for viral vaccines and therapeutics.

Bespak by Recipharm Webinar: Learn How To Overcome Viscous Formulation Challenges For Parenteral Delivery
There have been many challenges holding back widespread adoption of self-administered injectable formulations. One of the most pressing is the need to develop an auto-injector with a fine enough needle for….
WHITE PAPERS

TECH BRIEF – Expedite FDA Approvals With Certified Pure Materials
A key focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s evaluation of a medical device’s safety and effectiveness is reviewing its material makeup. If improperly…

WHITEPAPER – How to Mitigate Risk for Biologics During Fill/Finish Manufacturing
Aseptic processing with the highest degree of sterility assurance, filling accuracy, and quality is critical for high-value, small-batch therapies. This white paper explores the specialized…

WHITEPAPER – Launching a Drug-Device Combination: 5 Key Factors to Focus On
Going to market in a delivery device is one of the most complex steps in the life cycle of an injectable medication. A CDMO expert explains where to start and what to prepare for.

WHITE PAPER: Tackling a Changing Climate; Metered Dose Inhalers | Recipharm
Are you prepared for the HFA phasedown? With many industries switching to more environmentally friendly propellants, pMDI developers need to be ready. Recipharm explore alternative…

WHITE PAPER: Molly Modular Autoinjector Platform by SHL Medical
White Paper: A Systematic Review of Molly’s Integrated and Flexible Device Design and Development Model SHL Medical has redefined the conventional platform model by…
What are Injection Devices?
Drug delivery devices are the physical agents that are included in the drug delivery system. There are a multitude of devices that people interact with every day which fall under this category. In modern pharmaceuticals, novel drug delivery devices and combination products are being designed for a number of reasons, including giving patients the ability to self-administer some medications at home, which can help them adhere to recommended regimens.
Evolution of Injection Devices
With modern technology and medicine, the combination product market is evolving. Any combination device, especially drug device combination devices, must follow strict guidelines. Thanks to advancements in engineering, an increasing number of drug delivery devices are being developed as electromechanical devices linked to apps in order to provide patients with more supervision when administering medications at home. Some of these medical apps may receive feedback from the device to track how much drug is being administered and how often, provide patients with dosing reminders and connect clinicians with this information so they can monitor patient compliance. The drug delivery devices that so many patients depend on must adhere to regulatory standards. There are strict guidelines for all methods of drug delivery, such as needle-based, aerosol, and needle-free injectors.
Smart devices, interconnectivity, and related technology provide real-time data to healthcare providers for analysis, but these device additions should not increase risks, including patient understanding of treatment delivery, or jeopardize compliance. Data collection needs to be “passive” to the patient. In other words, invisible to the patient’s use of the device so that the collected data provides a true benefit to the end user. If these design considerations can be implemented without impacting the patient or how they administer and receive treatment, then smart devices can provide advantages to the patient and the industry.
Injection Device Global Market Trends
The global injectable drug delivery devices market is expected to show significant growth in the coming years as manufacturers introduce technological advancements and product innovation meant to improve convenience, compliance, and ease of administration of parenterals. Additionally, the increasing preference for at-home self-injection is driving the market as patients prefer to continue to avoid healthcare settings post-COVID. With all of this taken into account, one market study predicts the global market to reach almost $26 billion by 2025, up from $15 billion in 2020. However, another report values the global market at $42.76 billion in 2021 and expects it to reach $50.9 billion in 2025.
How the numbers will play out is yet to be determined, but the studies do highlight the focus on single-use and reusable systems. Disposable-use prefilled syringes (PFS) are increasingly used due to the prevalence of chronic diseases and the growing number of biologics best delivered by syringes. Single-use autoinjectors are also poised to experience increased demand, particularly with the growing pervasiveness of anaphylaxis disorders. Autoinjectors also provide a convenient alternative to manual syringe injections for subcutaneous administration.
Reusable Injection Devices
Pen injectors with prefilled cartridges have also proven to be a viable alternative to syringes. These injectors can perform hundreds of injections, with patients controlling the speed of delivery to minimize pain or discomfort during use.
Making injection devices partially reusable is a cost-saving strategy. Ideally, the device’s mechanism and/or electronics are the reusable parts of the system – as these are often the costliest – and the drug containers and needle are one-time use.
Another cost-saving strategy that several large pharmaceutical companies are deploying is to develop a device platform for multiple drug products in their portfolio. This allows them to spend resources on a single significant development program, for one optimal injection device, which then requires minimal customization for each sub-sequent product line.
Despite efforts to make better, safer, simpler injection devices, patient adherence is still a challenge associated with self-administration. This has resulted in the emergence of smart devices, such as wearable injectors, which share patient data with healthcare providers to ensure compliance. And while it is expected this sector will continue to grow, some industry insiders warn against making these devices too intrusive.