Reducing Operational Waste: Streamlining Drug Development with Innovative Autoinjectors
How automating, accelerating, and simplifying complex drug delivery can save time, resources, energy—and the planet.
In our previous articles on Injecting Sustainability, we've highlighted the importance of proactive autoinjector and drug delivery solutions as well as maximizing the impact of complex formulations to minimize carbon footprints. Now, let's delve into another critical aspect: the operational processes behind drug development.
Reformulating approved drugs is resource-intensive, often requiring years of additional research and testing—and often, operational waste that adds to a company’s carbon footprint.
According to what is commonly referred to as the “Tufts Cost Study,” it can take approximately 10-15 years and cost over $2.6 billion to bring a new drug to market, with a significant portion of that time and expense dedicated to reformulation. Today’s figures are substantially higher—one study reveals that from 2001 to 2020, big pharma spent over $6 billion per drug approval. Nearly half of big pharma companies reported negative productivity, increasing the pressure to deliver more value.
REMOVING CO-FORMULATION ROADBLOCKS
In many cases, on the way to developing an injectable formulation, a development team will run into co-formulation challenges or stability roadblocks. In one case, there may be a need to keep two compounds separate until the moment of administration. In another case, a lyophilized medication may be produced to support clinical trials. In either case, this can become a call to action for the formulation development team to improve and refine the formulation so that it can be a single liquid-stable injectable in time for commercial launch.
At Windgap Medical, we streamline drug development for pharmaceutical companies by focusing on efficient formulations from the start. Our cutting-edge autoinjector technologies enable sequential delivery of combination therapies and support lyophilized injectables. This reduces the need for reformulation, allowing R&D teams to concentrate on innovative treatments. By bringing a lyophilized product to market, you can minimize operational waste and achieve faster, more sustainable outcomes.
A NEW WORLD OF AUTOINJECTORS
Windgap's LVDC autoinjector platform is designed with efficiency in mind, offering solutions that streamline drug development and reduce the need for costly reformulations. By enabling the sequential delivery of combination therapies and supporting long-acting injectables, our technology helps pharmaceutical companies focus on innovation while minimizing environmental impact. Click here to partner with Windgap to transform your drug delivery processes and achieve a more sustainable future.
This post is part of a 5-part series about “Injecting Sustainability” into complex drug delivery.
Find the full series here.