NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ - Amherst, NH, United States, 2013/12/17 - Greystone Research Associates examines the needs of injectable drug developers against the capabilities of evolving device designs - GreystoneAssociates.org.

Propelled by advances in materials science and design engineering software, progress in the healthcare sector is moving forward at an escalating rate. Drug delivery companies and their supply chain partners are being tested in this environment, as they strive to create devices and systems that can address the requirements of new drug therapies. The technology component of injection device design, development and fabrication has been arguably the most affected by this trend, and the strides that have been made in syringe and injector evolution have been impressive. But are injection devices at the forefront of this wave of innovation, or are they gating the launch of new injectables?

Not surprisingly, the answer is both. Advances in coatings and device designs have led to prefilled biologicals in patient-friendly drug-device combination products that were not possible just a few years ago. Prefilled drug cartridges have reduced the cost of injectable pens and autoinjectors, making them accessible to a larger segment of the chronically ill. Injectors with advanced features such as variable dosing, dose counters and audible cues are making self-administration safer for patients prescribed immune modulators with black box warnings. Similarly, dual chamber syringes and cartridges allow end-users to reconstitute injectable drugs without handling, measuring or manual dilution.

The other side of the title question is that, in spite of rapid progress in syringe and injector design and development, drug formulation is moving faster. Developers of advanced formulas that incorporate nanoparticles often have difficulty finding a device solution that keeps them on schedule. High-viscosity formulations that can be supplied and delivered in prefillable devices continue to challenge the industry. And certain protein and peptide drugs can create stability problems due to interaction with prefilled device materials, sometimes requiring long development delays or, if discovered post-launch, leading to product recalls and shortages.

To streamline the drug-device development process, drug developers are increasingly aligning themselves with device suppliers, increasing the level of concurrent engineering, identifying design challenges earlier and minimizing possible delays that could result. This trend represents risks for injectable drug firms competing for device solutions for their sophisticated formulations. It is also an opportunity for smaller device suppliers who are able to demonstrate the financial and technological resources to address the needs of injectable drug developers.

A new and comprehensive report on global injection device products and markets conducted by Greystone Research Associates is now available. The report Drug Injection Devices to 2018 provides analysis and assessments of drug injection devices across all major device categories syringes, pen injectors, autoinjectors, needle-free injectors and safety syringes and examines injectable drugs and combination products and their therapeutic markets, while also assessing market factors and market participants.

About Greystone Research Associates

Greystone Research Associates (greystoneassociates.org) is a medical technology consulting firm focused on the areas of medical market strategy, product commercialization, venture development, and market research. We assist medical and healthcare market participants in achieving their business objectives through the creation of detailed development strategies, product commercialization programs, and comprehensive market and technology research and analysis. Our market research publications are designed, researched and written to provide timely and insightful information and data on focused market segments, with the aim of providing market participants with the essential knowledge to refine and execute their marketing plans and financial targets.

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