Schott, a German supplier of parenteral packaging for the pharmaceutical industry, has developed a syringe system called InJentle that meets the special needs of highly sensitive drugs. The company says its unique design offers improved drug stability as well as gentle application for the patient.
"The drug is not in contact with the needle or the adhesive during storage," says Carmen Heiter, product manager, syringes at Schott. "This prevents sensitive drugs from interacting with the adhesive or the metal of the needle."
The seal design allows the drug only to flow into the needle at the moment the syringe is opened i.e. when the needle shield is pulled off. The tamper-evident closure enables doctors or patients to determine if the syringe is still unused.
The company says the special geometry of the glass barrel does not require the use of any tungsten during the glass forming process and as a result, the syringe is tungsten-free.
"There is a growing segment of biotech drugs that are not only highly effective but also very sensitive," says Ralf Bouffleur, vice president of Schott Pharmaceutical Packaging. "The reliable protection of these drugs during storage is now calling for innovative packaging solutions such as Schott InJentle."
The device allows the use of particularly thin needles up to 32 gauge. It is also simple to use, which means healthcare staff do not need to be specially trained to administer an injection. Although the syringe includes a number of special features, it is delivered with standard nests and tubs and can be filled on standard filling lines.
Schott is currently building a production line to manufacture the InJentle syringe, with mass production planned to start at the end of 2010 in St Gallen, Switzerland. Samples in 1ml format are available for testing.
"Schott InJentle is both "drug friendly" and "patient friendly," adds Heiter. "On the one hand, it enables even very sensitive drugs to be stored safely, on the other it offers easy handling and the ability to use particularly thin needles for a gentle application."
