There were about 65 attendees from across the industry; big pharma / biopharma, established speciality Pharma, generic pharma / biopharma and venture funded early-stage companies plus from the device / CMO / manufacturing side, major device and component suppliers and companies providing fill / finish and test equipment. And then there were a handful of service providers and consultants – including Team!
The title ‘Pre-filled syringes’ could sound rather narrow but this is not really the fault of the organisers – it has become a label applied by the industry as a whole to describe any and all of the issues assocColin Mathews and I kicked off the recent World Pre-filled Syringes Summit in Washington DC with a three hour interactive workshop with the title ‘The Process and pitfalls when developing an Autoinjector’.
We had hoped for plenty of participation and certainly got it – a very constructive and open discussion with some fascinating perspectives and experiences.iated with self-administered injections. Just a few years ago, self–injection meant patients coming to terms with using a vial and syringe. Changing the primary packaging format to a glass bodied pre-fillable syringe simplifies therapy for the patient but also introduces new issues for the manufacturer, a wide range of which were covered this week.
Some attendees were already using pre-filled syringes or about to do so, but for many the focus was the autoinjector – the logical evolution to further improve usability. Experiences ranged from having marketed autoinjectors through current implementers to others involved in developing alternative, completely different injection systems. Irrespective of delegate background, there was real openness, and a willingness to share ideas and swap experiences which was genuinely refreshing. In a shift from typical historic practice, there was notable and widespread acknowledgement that as the interface between the drug and the patient, the delivery system must be considered from the outset alongside development of the therapy, drug or formulation.
If you are interested in learning more about our workshop or the process of developing an autoinjector please get in touch.
