Biopharmaceuticals are one of the fastest growing segments in the pharmaceutical industry. Biologics are derived from microbial, plant or animal cells and are often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases. Biologics need to be injected into the human body by injection or intravenous infusion. Patients usually need to work to and from a professional medical institution to receive the infusion or painfully inject at home.
To address these difficulties, Enable Injections (www.enableinjections.com) has developed a wearable disposable drug delivery device that enables patients to comfortably administer large-volume or high-viscosity therapeutics themselves. Enable Injections device components are injection molded from Covestro's medical-grade polycarbonate materials.
The light purple housing of the delivery device is made of Makrolon® Rx1805 polycarbonate. Its delivery system is made of a white Bayan® M850 XF PC ABS blend to help patients easily transfer biologics from their original containers to the Enable Injections wearable drug delivery device.
Brian Faul, Business Development Manager, Covestro's Polycarbonate Business Unit, Midwestern United States, said: "From selecting the right polycarbonate material to supporting in-house testing and production, Covestro supports every step of Enable Injections."
Makrolon® Rx1805 polycarbonate is a medical grade resin that is commonly used in the production of transparent parts for medical devices. It provides the following benefits to device enclosures, including:
• Resistant to high-energy radiation sterilization
• Biocompatible and meets multiple requirements of ISO 10993-1 assessment
• high viscosity
• High tolerance to grease chemicals
Byzantine® M850 XF PC ABS blends provide the following advantages for transmission systems, including:
• Biocompatible and meets multiple requirements of ISO 10993-1 assessment
• Good liquidity
• Heat resistance up to 131 ° C (Vica B / 120)
• High dimensional accuracy, high stability and high toughness
Lauren Zetts, North American Marketing Manager, Medical and Consumer Business, Covestro's Polycarbonate Business Unit, said: "Biological agents are very sensitive, and choosing the right materials for delivery systems is critical to patient safety. The industry's original equipment manufacturers provide the materials they need to get their products to market. Therefore, we are naturally glad that this application has chosen Covestro materials to make a positive impact on patients' lives. "