Proof of delivery: Where opportunities lie in drug delivery
Developments within the drug delivery market are strong. Lu Rahman looks at where the growth lies and where the some of the opportunities lie within the sector.
Drug delivery devices contribute significantly to the medical device market – from infusion catheter delivery systems to more complex connected products that have been making their way on to the market in recent years – the market is buoyant and on the up.
According to Persistence Market Research, North America leads the ways in this sector, followed by Europe. It puts this down to an increasing demand for ‘improved drug delivery systems, rising accessibility and affordability of drug delivery devices, and increasing number of chronic diseases in the region.’
Things may well change. Over the next five years, Asia looks set to become the fastest growing market for this sector ‘due to rising prevalence of various chronic diseases and ageing population in this region.’ It’s also thought that an improvement in economic conditions also looks likely to provide a boom to the drug delivery device market.
Thanks to the recent boom in mobile and digital health technologies, the connected drug delivery device market shows significant potential, providing interest to the sector. Opportunities are strong. According to Statista, the global digital health market is set to hit $2016 billion by 2020, with the mobile health market on track to reach $21 billion globally.
With devices available that allow the patient to administer drugs in their own home, that also remind them to do so while recording and sending their results to a physician, it’s clear to see why such devices have gained ground. Freeing up time for both the patient and the healthcare professional, connected drug delivery devices always had a strong chance of being a success. At the moment diabetes, cardiovascular and auto immune diseases top the list of conditions where connected drug delivery devices are stealing a march. According to Future Market Insights one reason that connected drug delivery devices are in such demand among healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies is due to their effect on improved adherence to treatment protocol. Connected drug delivery devices affect drug formulation design and drug delivery decisions.
Manufacturing expertise
Phillips-Medisize is an expert on the connected drug delivery device markets and the critical considerations device manufacturers need to bear in mind when producing high viscosity / high volume drug delivery devices. With the increased use of biologics, the industry has explored ways of creating devices that can cope with these viscous substances.
In an article written for MPN last year, the company explained: “There has been a rise in popularity of wearable self-injection systems for biologics. Instead of scheduling a doctor’s appointment for certain treatments, a wearable device allows patients to self-administer injectable medication. By 2020, biologics are expected to make up more than half of the world’s top 100 selling drugs. To keep pace with these trends, device designers are tasked with overcoming various challenges associated with delivering these drugs.”
The future of drug delivery
The drug delivery device market continually innovates with exciting initiatives, products and research pushing the sector forward. Cilcare a leading clinical research organization specializing in ear disorders, and CBSET, a non-profit research institute specializing in the advancement of novel therapies, recently announced a collaboration with Draper, a company that focusses on the design, development and deployment of advanced engineering solutions. The company has developed a novel intracochlear drug delivery (ICDD) device for hearing loss and related indications. With the ability to maintain a precise and constant volume of the inner ear fluid and with its small size, the ICDD is being said to highlight an innovative technological solution to treat patients with congenital and degenerative hearing loss.
“The alliance between Cilcare, the world’s leading services company in ear disorders, and Draper’s expertise in biomedical solutions, will allow us to develop a new generation of treatments to cure hearing loss. With 360 million people suffering from hearing loss in the world the stakes are high, and this collaboration provides a fast track for the development of safe, direct and effective treatments for patients.
The intracochlear drug delivery device is revolutionizing the treatment of inner ear diseases by circumventing the tissue permeation barriers that have long hampered the development of pharmacotherapies for hearing disorders,” said Célia Belline, CEO, Cilcare.