Greystone Research Associates

(Amherst, NH) – Driven by improved device designs, a maturing supply chain infrastructure and broad acceptance of inherent patient and caregiver benefits, prefilled syringes will continue to grow at a double digit rate, climbing to four and three quarter billion units worldwide in 2016, according to the latest estimates from Greystone Research Associates. Drug developers seeking to package their injectable formulations in prefilled devices need an understanding of the unique technology and business factors defining this sector. The prefille…

(Amherst, NH) – As prefilled injection devices continue to replace vials in terms of injections as well as total sector revenue, pharmaceutical and biotech program managers are increasingly integrating syringe and self-injection device technology into their development plans. The result has been a migration toward multi-functional development teams and an increasing reliance on accelerated product feasibility testing. As the factors driving this trend continue to evolve over the next four years, the number of tailored injectable drug products…

(Amherst, NH) – The search for improved routes of administration for macromolecular therapeutic agents and the desire for noninvasive delivery methods for self-medication of chronic conditions have led to increased interest in pulmonary drug delivery systems. Recent developments, including escalating research activity in powder formulations, advances in particle engineering, and novel device architectures have now positioned dry powder inhalation (DPI) as a formidable challenger to competing pulmonary methods, and are establishing DPI as a si…

(Amherst, NH) – As the median age of the global population continues to increase, conditions and diseases such as menopause, osteoporosis and heart disease, which require long-term therapy, are expected to become significantly more prevalent. This is driving a growing emphasis on drug self-administration for chronic conditions and greater interest in noninvasive drug delivery technology. Because of the patient-friendly nature oral inhalers, inhaled drug delivery continues to attract the interest of drug developers and their technology partner…

(Amherst, NH) – Unlike oral drugs, a significant number of injectables are supplied in powder form. These drugs have undergone a process called lyophilization, a type of drying process. Drugs in dry form are more stable at room temperature than drugs in solution or suspension. The number of drugs supplied in lyophilized form has been growing at an increased rate over the past several years, mirroring the increase in the introduction of biological drugs. Because of stability and shelf life factors, therapeutic proteins must either be stored …

(Amherst, NH) – The evolution in drug injection devices to accommodate new injectable drugs designed for self-administration continues to change the therapeutic drug landscape. Attempting to address key healthcare issues that include patient safety and drug protocol compliance, device designers are now building on the experience of earlier generations of syringes and injectors, incorporating new design features with the aim of making the injection event more consistent across patient populations and less likely to evoke feelings of apprehensi…

(Amherst, NH) – The increasing number biological drugs for treating chronic conditions continues to change the practice of drug therapeutics. Patients with previously untreatable diseases are now benefiting from the availability of powerful new treatments, albeit with a couple of significant drawbacks, one of which being the potential for severe side effects. The second has to do with the nature of biologicals with renders them much less stable than other classes of drugs. From a formulation standpoint, this formulaic fragility creates challe…

(Amherst, NH) - Infusion is one of the most common therapeutic procedures that patients in a hospital setting are likely to receive. Yet the lack of standardization among the various components, elements and steps that a caregiver must navigate to successfully execute a drug infusion have – according to several recent studies – contributed to medication errors and risks to patient safety. The current generation of what can be referred to as advanced infusion pumps – ‘smart’ pumps – are attempting to address the risks associated with infusio…

(Amherst, NH) - An increasing understanding of the physiology of pain coupled with patient-friendly dosage forms and delivery techniques is providing caregivers and prescribers with improved tools for helping patient manage their own pain. New and emerging pain delivery products that allow patients to play an active role in the timing and dosing of their pain medication allow patients to balance pain relief and medication side effects, and potentially improve quality-of-life. Pain management philosophy is based on the premise of treating pa…