Italian-based Stevanato Group, a leading producer of glass primary packaging and provider of integrated capabilities for combination products and Duoject Medical Systems, a Canadian-based developer of innovative drug delivery systems, today announced an exclusive partnership to collaborate on providing biopharmaceutical clients a more complete and comprehensive ‘one stop shop’ solution to an emergency-use auto-injector.  

The Maverick auto-injector was designed by Duoject Medical Systems, focusing on improving the functionality of auto-injectors to enhance disease management and treatment. Maverick is an innovative cartridge-based auto-injector with intuitive two-step triggered automatic injection and needle retraction. Its user-friendly design allows an easier activation while the needle is not exposed and automatically retracted after injection. Mechanical robustness is a key feature of Maverick, utilizing a highly resistant glass cartridge, which makes it suitable for emergency use where effective and fast intramuscular injection is required.

Stevanato Group is working closely with Duoject Medical Systems to promote this device to biopharmaceutical clients that are looking for a suitable auto-injector which is cartridge-based rather than PFS-based and taking into consideration the automatic needle insertion and retraction design of the device.  For each client further refinement of the design is expected as well as related customization by designers and engineers at Duoject Medical Systems.  Design for manufacturing (Dfm), and design for assembly, (DfA), will be supported by Stevanato Group. The final device design for clinical trial and commercial launch will be produced at Stevanato Group’s ISO13485 and FDA audited manufacturing facility in Germany, a key location within the Group for the manufacturing of self-injection devices like auto-injectors. Sub-assembly and final assembly equipment will be primarily produced by Stevanato Group operations in Denmark. Novocol Pharma, parent company of Duoject Medical Systems, will provide extensive support to related biopharmaceutical companies in terms of formulation, fill & finish and final assembly of the auto-injector.

Atif Zia, President of Duoject Medical Systems, said: “Duoject is pleased to announce its second drug delivery device collaboration with Stevanato Group, following the announcement of the EZ-Link vial adapter partnership earlier this year. Maverick will provide patented user safety features preventing accidental injections in the thumb and improved ease of use in emergency situations. The design of the device results from Duoject’s decades of experience developing cartridge-based drug delivery systems. The device has a granted patent in the USA and is patent pending in several additional countries.  With our complementary capabilities, Duoject and Stevanato Group will deliver exceptional value and innovation for auto-injector clients, worldwide.”

“Stevanato Group has the largest global manufacturing capabilities of high-quality glass cartridges for injection devices in the world today. And we supply these cartridges to almost all key biopharmaceutical companies with combination products launched in the market” said Steven Kaufman, Vice President of Drug Delivery Systems at Stevanato Group. “Most marketed auto-injectors are designed for use with prefilled syringes and that has been a very effective strategy. But for some formulations and use cases, utilizing a cartridge-based injection device has some distinct advantages. With Maverick we can merge our unique primary packaging expertise with our molding, tooling and assembly capabilities, expanding the range of choices in the market today for emergency applications through a reliable and robust auto-injector.”

For more information, please contact:

Steven Kaufman, steven.kaufman@stevanatogroup.com

Daniel MacDonald, dmacdonald@duoject.com

About Stevanato Group

Established in 1949, Stevanato Group is the world’s largest, privately-owned designer and producer of glass primary packaging for the pharmaceutical industry. From its outset, the Group has developed its own glass converting technology to ensure the highest standards of quality. The Group comprises a wide set of capabilities dedicated to serving the biopharmaceutical and diagnostic industries: from glass containers with its historical brand Ompi, to high-precision plastic diagnostic and medical components, to contract manufacturing for drug delivery devices, to vision inspection systems, assembly, and packaging equipment. The Group also provides analytical and testing services to study container closure integrity and integration into drug delivery devices, streamlining the drug development process. Thanks to its unique approach as a one-stop-shop, Stevanato Group is able to offer an unprecedented set of solutions to biopharma companies for a faster time to market and a reduced total cost of ownership.

For more information please visit www.stevanatogroup.com

About Duoject

Founded in 1985, Duoject Medical Systems is a provider of Design & Development services for innovative and patented medical devices.  Duoject develops technologies which meet the need for safety, precision and ease of use for preparation and/or administration of injectable drugs.  The company offers custom development services as well as ready-for-market products for various applications.  Duoject’s services range from initial proof of concept to design and engineering, Verification & Validation, regulatory and manufacturing support.

For more information please visit www.duoject.com