Needle free drug injects to win a prize

. Developed by Oxford based Glide Pharma in collaboration with product designers Brightworks and manufacturer, Bespak, it won the overall Best Business Ward at the 2007 Medical Futures Innovation Awards. The system comprises a spring powered actuator and a pre-filled drug cassette, which can be thrown away with normal household waste after use. Volunteers state that they preferred an injection with the new system to one with a standard needle and syringe. Storing drugs in solid form typically makes them more stable so that refrigeration may not be needed, as is often the case with liquid formulations. A solid dosage form also enables both immediate and/or controlled release of the drug into the blood stream, reducing the need for multiple injections, as well as reducing the need for needles, 15 billion of which are used very year world wide, along with risks associated with needle stick injuries. Brightworks, based in Bristol, concentrated on ensuring ease of use and technical concepts for the device, the single use cassette and its sterile packaging. Bespak’s involvement included development for manufacture and making parts for use in the first clinical trials, which are scheduled for Autumn 2007. For more information: www.glidepharma.com www.medicalfutures.co.uk