The energy at both conferences was evident – it felt very much like ‘the gang getting back together’, following two years of enforced virtual only engagements. Both events focused on knowledge sharing and partnering, bringing together leading names within the drug delivery sector, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, device manufacturers and a multitude of specialist suppliers. Our Client Director, Kerry Briggs, Head of Portfolio Management, Sunny Panesar, and Medical Portfolio Manager, Geoff Jones, were all in attendance.
Here’s what we heard:
Advances in drug delivery technologies mean that the transition from IV to At-Home Delivery is increasingly possible
At-home delivery is far more convenient but requires both delivery and packaging solutions that are robust, user-friendly, and able to support the different demands of successful home administration. The regulatory pathway is equally challenging, and it is where human factors experts will likely play an even more important role, particularly to identify and deliver the types of studies that will ultimately provide the data that is needed for at-home device approvals.
At KD our drug delivery specialists across human factors, design, engineering and testing are supporting pharmaceutical companies to make this multifaceted transition for at-home delivery.
The value of connected devices continues to be a hot topic of discussion, but perhaps without any clear answers
We are living in an experience economy where human focussed devices and services are interconnected. This creates opportunities within drug delivery for physical and digital product touchpoints that offer the potential of improved outcomes for patients. But connected devices can come with high upfront costs, lengthy timelines to commercialisation and the value of the data collected, and importantly how this data is used, is complex and unclear. By better understanding the balance between value and cost we can ensure benefit to both the patient and the pharma company.
Our dedicated digital and electronics teams at Ensera Design work with our customers to better understand the connected device space on both a macro and a micro level, allowing us to design better device and service experiences that benefit all stakeholders.
Increased focus on sustainability within medical device development
Sustainability and the environmental impact of devices from cradle to grave is an increasingly important challenge within the drug delivery and wider medical space. While both existing and future devices should be justifiable from an environmental perspective, with new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation due to be implemented within the next few years, businesses will be duty bound to ensure that the lifecycles of their devices meet, what will likely be, more demanding standards.
Ensera Design’s internal Sustainability Lab initiative was setup with the mission of being industry leaders in this area. Our entire team are committed to compiling and sharing the knowledge needed to design viable, sustainable products and services, and they are ready to support your business.
To find out more about how we can help your business, get in touch with our Medical Portfolio Manager, Geoff Jones.
