Prefilled syringe refers to a single use, single dose and disposable design packet of parenteral drugs, upon which a needle has been fixed by the manufacturer. These are syringes filled with medication, before they are supplied to patients and healthcare providers. They are composed of plunger, barrel, needle guard activation clip, needle guard wings, elastomer stopper, needle and needle cap. Prefilled syringe cartridges are designed for fitting into specialized syringes, which are used to administer various fluid medications.
Prefilled syringes help to eliminate various numbers of procedures required for administering a formulation. It is used as a replacement of standard syringe, in which healthcare practitioners fill drugs manually before dispensing dose to a patient. The glass-based systems and plastic-based systems are the type of syringes systems available. It reduces the risk of contamination, eliminates medication errors, and increase patient compliance. It is useful in case of emergency and has potential for duplicate peel-off labels, which facilitates patient charting.
Moreover, it also reduces therapy and injection costs, optimized number of doses for existing supply, and also result in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient(API) cost saving. Some of the categories of drugs packaged in prefilled syringes are therapeutic proteins, interferons, vaccines, blood stimulants, and erythroproteins.
The prefilled syringes segment is the fastest growing segment in the packaging and drug delivery sectors. The pharmaceutical industry is observing a shift from administration of injections in clinician settings to home care setting. Similarly, the medical device manufacturers are also moving their focus towards the development of user friendly and patient compliant devices. Many companies provide prefilled syringe products, as means of life-cycle extension.
The key companies operating in the global prefilled syringes market include SCHOTT AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Unilife Corporation, Gerresheimer AG, Baxter International Inc., Nipro Corporation, Ypsomed Holding AG, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Vetter Pharma-Fretigung GmbH & Co.,Stevanato Group S.p.a., and Bespak Europe Ltd.
