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(Amherst, NH) – Aging population demographics and managed care initiatives are major forces driving the future direction of healthcare, a trend that includes an expanding number of drugs available on prefilled packaging and the self-administration of drug therapies for chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, hormone replacement therapy, and a growing list of treatments. This trend is being enabled by advances in materials engineering, aseptic filling and product sterilization.
These developments are creating challenges for drug developers and formulators, market planners and product managers across a broad spectrum of therapeutic products. But of all the various sectors, it is the injectables that are feeling the greatest impact. This group represents a sizable chunk of all pharmaceuticals in terms of the number of drug products, second only to oral delivery. There are several reasons why injectables are the most widely affected by product initiatives in the current climate.
“As new biologicals with the ability to effectively treat chronic conditions enter the market, the number of injectables being formulated for self-administration is growing significantly,” explains David Clark, Greystone analyst. Improved patient compliance, efficient delivery of high-priced recombinant drugs, and patient safety are key market drivers in this sector. Another factor is the number of packaging choices available to injectable drug developers. “Specialty injection devices such as pens and autoinjectors dominate the market for several refractory conditions such as the autoimmune diseases and certain metabolic conditions. But there are exceptions to the chronic disease rule, such as anticoagulants which continue to be produced in vials and prefilled syringes.”
Even within each homogenous injection device segments, key factors must be addressed that impact the market success of the drug. “Fixed needles are the rule for specialty injection devices, but for prefilled syringes the answer is – ‘it depends’,” says Clark. “For most vaccines – including seasonal vaccines available in liquid formulations - prefilled syringes with a luer configuration are specified, but a significant number of non-seasonal vaccines are lyophilized, and shipped in vials for reconstitution by the caregiver.” While sophisticated reconstitution systems for vaccines in powder form are available from Vetter and others, the cost premium of this approach – particularly in light of the modest volume opportunity for non-childhood vaccines – provide insufficient incentive for most drug suppliers.
Greystone Associates’ report on prefilled syringes, researched and written by Greystone, examines prefilled syringe trend data and provides analysis and forecasts for fifteen therapeutic sectors. It analyzes critical business and marketing issues, as well as market opportunities and challenges for injectable drug developers, syringe suppliers, contract fillers and service organizations, and other supply chain participants.
More information is available at www.greystoneassociates.org .
About Greystone
Greystone Associates is a medical and healthcare technology consulting firm providing services in strategic planning, venture development, product commercialization, and technology and market assessment.
Contact:
Mark Smith
Voice: 603-595-4340
Fax: 603-804-0466
www.greystoneassociates.org
Source: Greystone Associates
Posted June 15th, 2009 by mksmith
