medmix Drug Delivery (Haselmeier) Launches its First Fully Featured Autoinjector

medmix Drug Delivery introduces PiccoJect, a disposable two-step autoinjector designed for subcutaneous injection. The device is being developed in two variants (PiccoJect 100 and PiccoJect 225) for a standard 1-ml long or 2.25-ml prefilled glass or plastic syringes. With a focus on patient-centric design and a commitment to sustainability, PiccoJect is composed of only eight parts and features an ergonomic shape and a large wrap-around drug window. Haselmeier is offering PiccoJect as a full-service platform, including combination product development, design verification, final assembly, secondary packaging, labeling, and serialization.

PiccoJect™ autoinjector 1.0 ml and 2.25 ml.

Chris Muenzer, Vice President of Innovation and Development at Haselmeier, explained “It was important for us to offer a product that both met the needs of our pharmaceutical customers, and also of their patients. With this in mind, we focused on three key aspects during the development of PiccoJect: consistent and repeatable performance, patient-centric design and a commitment to sustainability.”

PiccoJect is specifically designed to have a significantly reduced part count of only 8 components. This improved device design reduces manufacturing and scale up challenges that can impact performance. The autoinjector platform is fully customizable based on customer needs including support for different fill volumes and drug viscosities, color options for the cap and an adjustable size of the drug window. “In addition, the design of PiccoJect includes a number of connectivity options that are either integrated or provided as an add-on module, without modifying the core mechanism or compromising handling,” Chris adds.

The PiccoJect design features an ergonomic shape and a large wrap-around drug window that provides a simple and consistent user experience. This was confirmed in a recent study in which 83% of the participants rated the visibility of the PiccoJect drug window as superior and 75% reported that they preferred the wide cross-section of PiccoJect. A colored status indicator provides an easy-to-understand binary information about the usage status of the autoinjector. Audible clicks at the start and end of injection also help to ensure that the user holds the device in place until the full dose has been injected.

The PiccoJect™ features details. Left – the cap must be removed before use. Right – audible clicks at the start and end of each injection, as well as visual feedback, help to ensure the user holds the device in place until the full dose has been injected.

Reflecting its commitment to sustainability, medmix has designed PiccoJect based on the eco design principles, taking a conscious view to reduce its carbon footprint including utilizing materials with sustainable feedstocks, investment in green electricity, and development of regional supply chains for the US and Europe market. “From the start of the project, sustainability has been a focus of our development. Reduction of the carbon footprint has been a key design goal for the entire team,” explained Chris. “With PiccoJect, Haselmeier are committed to offering a full-service platform to its customers. This includes combination product development, design verification, final assembly, secondary packaging, labeling and serialization. This allows pharma companies, particularly small to medium companies with limited device experience, to receive a ready to file device, including necessary supporting documentation.”

PiccoJect is designed for patients and non-professional care givers to administer an injection in a home setting and can also be used by nurses and other health care professionals in the clinic. The device is applicable for the use in any drug product that is packaged in a prefilled syringe. This includes novel biologics for indications such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, and some viral diseases such as hepatitis. In addition, the use in biosimilars of existing drugs like adalimumab and etanercept is also a focus.

Both variants of the PiccoJect support small round or cut flange syringes. The autoinjector platform supports fill volumes from 0.2 ml to 2 ml and is designed to inject formulations with a viscosity up to 20 cP in less than 15 seconds.

Facts and figures about PiccoJect:

• Low part count of only eight components
• Patient-centric design with an ergonomic shape and a large wrap-around drug window
• A full-service platform with consistent and repeatable performance
• Disposable two-step autoinjector for subcutaneous injection
• Developed for a standard 1-ml long or 2.25-ml prefilled glass or plastic syringes
• Fill volumes from 0.2 ml to 2.0 ml
• Viscosity up to 20 cP

PiccoJect™ is easy to customize.

medmix is a global leader in high-precision delivery devices. We occupy leading positions in the healthcare, consumer, and industrial end-markets. Our customers benefit from a dedication to innovation and technological advancement that has resulted in over 900 active patents. Our 13 production sites worldwide together with our highly motivated and experienced team of 1,900 employees provide our customers with uncompromising quality, proximity, and agility. medmix is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: MEDX). For more information, visit www.medmix.swiss.

medmix is a trademark of medmix AG, and transcodent, MIXPAC, COX, and MK are trademarks of medmix Switzerland AG, a company of the medmix group.