Self-Injection of Biologics Made Easy
Self-Injection of Biologics Made Easy
By: Devan Patel, Vice President of Client Services
The combination of an aging population and more people suffering from chronic diseases is making it difficult for healthcare professionals to effectively treat patients over the long-term, subsequently impacting patient compliance. Additionally, increasing patient volume and rising prevalence of chronic diseases are necessitating a need for self-injection devices. This has led to increased demand for patient-friendly self-administration systems, such as single- and dual-chamber cartridges in combination with a pen device. In fact, industry gurus estimate the global autoinjectors market, which includes cartridge-based systems, to be valued at more than $6.2 billion by 2027.1
Surpassing Injection Volume Limitations
Cartridge-based pen devices have found a place in managing Type 1 diabetes, pain management, cancer, hormone disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. These devices contain a cartridge, a dial to measure dosage, and a disposable needle. Ready-to-Use (RTU) 3 mL cartridge-based, single-use Pen Devices are specifically designed to ensure consistency of delivery for high-volume, high-viscosity injectable drug delivery systems. They are more simple, accurate, less intrusive, and convenient delivery than using a vial and syringe.
New biologic treatments that require greater dose volumes demand that devices be able to deliver larger and larger volumes. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, subcutaneous (SC) delivery of biologics has traditionally been limited to fluid volumes of 1–2 mL, with recent increases to volumes of about 3mL. This injection volume limitation poses challenges for high-dose biologics, as these formulations may also require increased solution concentration in many cases, resulting in high viscosities which can affect the stability, manufacturability, and delivery/administration of therapeutic drugs. Currently, there are technologies that can help to overcome these challenges and facilitate the delivery of larger amounts of drug through the SC route. This can be achieved either by enabling biologic molecules to be formulated or delivered as high-concentration injectables (>100 mg/mL for antibodies) or through facilitating the delivery of larger volumes of fluid (>3 mL).2
Aseptic Robotic Fill-Finish
Until recently, manufacturers did not have many options for rapidly producing products that command accurate cartridge filling in accordance with strict GMP requirements. The aseptic robotic fill-finish possible with the GENiSYS®R offers adaptive and flexible process automation for ready-to-fill vials, syringes, and cartridges – all on the same machine. Both peristaltic and rotary piston dispensing systems are available to accurately fill each container directly on an electronic balance to provide up to 100% in-process fill weight inspection. The integrated Electronic Batch Report (EBR) System records critical process information that can be used to create 21 CFR Part 11 compliant batch reports. The state-of-the-art GENiSYS®R supports small batch sizes to aseptically and accurately fill 3mL glass cartridges. The innovative GENiSYS®R facilitates delivery of sterile clinical and small-scale commercial supplies with very aggressive timelines.
Glass Cartridges Protect Your Drug
Higher injection volumes and viscosities present a unique challenge to companies as they assess primary packaging component technologies. Primary packaging is of critical importance in biologics as this is the main point of contact between the drug and the device. Additionally, glass is easy to sterilize with heat and can protect medicines from ultraviolet rays. Finally, glass is easily recycled. These are all reasons why the global glass packaging market could reach $7.5 billion by 2028.3
Partnering with a CDMO like Pii can progress your drug’s parenteral delivery from early-stage development concept to clinic. Pii can fill cartridges for use with a customer’s pen device, for a variety of products, including biologics. Supporting a range of therapies that require frequent injections and variable dosing, the 3mL cartridge in combination with a pen device can improve patient compliance.
References
- Sterile Injectables Device and Packaging Trends, by James Grote, Pharma’s Almanac, Nice Insight, March 14, 2022.
- Subcutaneous Delivery of High-Dose/Volume Biologics: Current Status and Prospect for Future Advancements, Advait V. Badkar, et. al., Jan. 13, 2021.
- Global $7.46 Bn Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging (Vials, Bottles, Cartridges & Syringes, Ampoules) Markets to 2028, ResearchandMarkets.com, Sept. 24, 2021.
Talk to a Pii Scientist
ABOUT Pii
Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii) is a US-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) located in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The experienced scientists, engineers, and staff at Pii pride themselves on adroitly employing a phase appropriate method of drug development for the prudent use of their customer’s resources as they solve challenging problems. In addition to offering end-to-end development services, Pii manufactures a variety of dosage forms to include complex parenteral drugs and has a wealth of analytical testing capabilities. Its Hunt Valley campus has four aseptic suites with lyophilization capabilities. Our talented professionals stand ready to help!
Devan Patel
Vice President of Client Services
Devan Patel, who joined Pii in 2012, is Vice President of Client Services where oversees Pii’s Business Operations functions. He previously served as Pii’s Senior Director, Project Management since 2012. In that role, Devan played a key role in Pii’s development and commercial programs for orals and injectables. With his leadership, Pii has built a world-class Project Management Organization (PMO) consistently characterized by superb customer experience. Over the years, Devan has used his knowledge and technical skills to play a vital role for the Operations team, managing key initiatives for the Parenteral/Sterile business unit, including managing the overall scheduling and planning of all Aseptic Operations. His collaborative style when working with cross-functional teams across Pii’s business units and ability to anticipate problems before they occur as raised the role of project management to an artform. Devan delivers a positive, outcomes-focused experience for our client-partners, from initial contact through successful completion of each project.
Devan earned his Bachelors in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Maryland and a M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.
