New drug-delivery systems needed to support patient mobility

Outpatient and home care treatments are becoming popular alternatives to hospitalization for cost reasons, observes Hans Peter Manser, business director for Weibel CDS AG. Such a trend, however, “requires changes in drug administration as the drugs at the hospital are infused via infusion bags and sets,” he tells PMP News. “New drug-delivery systems allowing for a total freedom to move as well as simple application are required to meet these needs.” 

New approaches to drug delivery will be explored by Ludwig Weibel, CEO of Weibel, in the upcoming Pharmapack presentation on February 2, “Patch Pump Applications – more than just Insulin.” Weibel will explore self-medication of parenteral drugs and how changing needs are influencing the future design of drug-delivery systems. Potential applications include oncology and pain treatments as well as those for diabetes, urgency, Parkinson’s, and thrombosis. Hormone therapy and biologics in general, too, are also potential areas for progress.

Weibel’s presentation will alert attendees to “potential new solutions and challenges we expect will gain importance in the next years to come,” says Manser. Weibel CDS AG will also be exhibiting at the show.

Weibel will also discuss the potential requirements for fulfilling such future needs as well as the potential challenges, which include market acceptance due to perceived higher cost; reimbursement by healthcare insurance; and the stability of drugs inside new containers.

Case studies will demonstrate how the audience could benefit from novelty solutions in a life-cycle management solution, for instance, for existing drugs. Weibel CDS AG offers products such as SuperCapSyringe, Reconstyringe, and DrugDeliverySystems (see image below) along with solutions like filling of drugs for stability testing.

Shown above: A cartridge-based DrugDeliverySystem (Patch Pump) based on the standard 3-ml insulin cartridges. Image provided by Weibel CDS AG.

Mobile phones, too, are influencing patient behavior and present opportunities for change. “The mobile phone generation is used to handling electronic devices and most importantly has less fear towards accepting new solutions,” says Manser. “Patient behavior is changing positively and the opportunity is a much higher and better acceptance of such devices and most importantly much better adherence to the treatment regimen.”

Weibel aims to provide Pharmapack attendees with new ideas on how they could solve upcoming needs and how they could make more out of their products, says Manser.

Pharmapack will be held on February 1-2 in Paris. For more details, visit www.pharmapackeurope.com.