(openPR) - (Amherst, NH) – As the underlying structure of their markets continues to change, injectable drug developers are refining their product models to reflect the economics and demographics of primary target indications. Gone are the days when vials were the only packaging option and insulin-dependent diabetes was the only significant self-treatment or home care condition. A number of factors have converged to create challenges and opportunities for injectable drug suppliers and their ecosystem partners. These factors include shifting patient demographics, new classes of injectable drugs capable of treating previously refractory conditions, and the economics and supply chain requirements for biological drugs.

Aging population demographics and managed care initiatives are major forces driving the growth of home healthcare, a trend that includes the self-administration of drug therapies for chronic conditions such as autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, chronic infections and hormone replacement therapy, in addition to diabetes. This trend is creating an increased interest in administration methods that are patient-friendly and cost-effective. Driven by application specific design features and consumer-oriented focus, pen injectors continue to benefit from this trend. Advances in synthetic materials and concurrent development partnerships between pen designers and drug developers are also important factors in the growth of this segment.

The trend favoring self-administration of injectables is being fueled by the availability of biological drugs created via host system-enabled recombinant engineering. Several new classes of injectables for treating chronic conditions have been commercialized since the start of the new century, including therapeutic antibodies, immune factors such as the interferons and tumor necrosis factor, and hormone analogs for treating metabolic conditions such as osteoporosis.

The economics of these new classes of biologicals make a strong case for prefilled injection technologies. “The cost per dose of most biologicals makes the use of devices that can be prefilled highly attractive,” explains George Perros, Greystone Managing Director. “By supplying the drug in a prefilled syringe or pen device, drug marketers avoid the need to overfill vials.” Another important consideration is safety. “The high efficacy of biological drugs comes with the increased risk of serious side effects. Drug companies want to insure to the maximum extent possible that the injection event delivers the exact amount of drug prescribed – no more, no less. This is where pen injectors have a significant advantage over prefilled syringes, in spite of the higher device cost.”

Pen injectors are already a leading drug delivery method in Europe where more than half of all diabetics use them to administer insulin injections. Drug companies are finding that customized pen devices can be important product differentiators in direct-to-consumer markets, This awareness has created opportunities for specialty pen device suppliers such as Ypsomed, which continues to dominate in this market. As pen devices become more entrenched in the strategies of injectable drug developers, alternative device acquisition strategies will put pressure on the traditional outsourcing models.

Detailed analysis of pen injector products, therapeutic sectors, and participants is included in a comprehensive report. The report documents and analyzes the results of a recent survey of pen injector drug delivery conducted by Greystone Associates.

More information is available at
www.greystoneassociates.org/Pen_Injectors.htm

Source: Greystone Research Associates

About Greystone

Greystone Associates 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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