Injection Devices
Apellis Announces US FDA Approval of the EMPAVELI Injector, a Device to Streamline Self-Administration
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently announced the US FDA has approved the EMPAVELI Injector, a compact, single-use, on-body device designed to enhance self-administration of….
DEVICE DEVELOPMENT - Connected Auto-Injector Development: How to Leverage Human Factors Engineering
Finola Austin examines the human factors process for such devices, including a detailed look at the recent development of the UniSafe® 1 mL auto-injector.
Phathom Pharmaceuticals Announces Vonoprazan NDA Submission for Non-Erosive GERD
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently announced the submission of an NDA to the FDA for vonoprazan as a daily treatment for Non-Erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)…
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….
PLATFORM DEVICE - Alina: Shining the “Light” on the Benefits of a Platform Approach to Treating Chronic Conditions
Adam Stops, PhD, says the key to the success of any drug delivery device are factors such as proven technology, low development costs, fast time-to-market, and a strong intellectual property (IP) position for the pharma company, and against this background, platform drug delivery devices have become more important than ever.
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW - Jubilant HollisterStier: The Importance of Expertise in Sterile Fill Finish
Chris Preti, President of Jubilant HollisterStier, discusses how the CMO is handling increased demand for sterile fill finish and how expertise makes a difference to customer relationships and finished product quality.
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…..
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…
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….
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….
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…
SPECIAL FEATURE - Parenteral Drug Delivery: Could a Dose of AI Improve Development?
Contributor Cindy H. Dubin speaks with several innovative companies to highlight the strides they are currently making toward improving dose accuracy, integrating design safety, and accelerating time to market.
DELIVERY DEVICES - Growing Connected Market Set to Elevate Healthcare Outcomes
Michael Earl examines what the connected device market will look to achieve in the coming years and how it is likely to drive improved adherence to treatments and improve overall healthcare outcomes.
Owen Mumford Wins Distinction in Red Dot Award (Product Design 2023) for AIDAPTUS® Autoinjector
Owen Mumford is proud to have been awarded a distinction in the prestigious Red Dot awards for innovative product design for its Aidaptus single-use autoinjector…
PCI Pharma Services Announces New Sterile Fill-Finish Capabilities Now Available in Melbourne & San Diego
New equipment added to San Diego and Melbourne facilities will help with clinical scale and global capacity shortages….
Meridian Medical Technologies Investing $100+ Million in Bridgeton, MO, Expansion
Meridian Medical Technologies recently announced during National Community Development Week it will expand manufacturing capabilities in….
Vetter Performs Extraordinarily With Six Wins in the 12th Annual CDMO Leadership Awards
Vetter recently earned the esteemed 2023 CDMO Leadership Awards in all six core categories – quality, expertise, reliability, capabilities, compatibility and service. In addition, the…
Stevanato Group Collaborates With Thermo Fisher Scientific to Bring its Innovative On-Body Delivery System Platform to Market
The companies will offer an integrated device and fill-and-finish solution to streamline the management of the pharmaceutical supply chain….
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.