What will happen next? A glimpse into the near future of polymer based solutions

For more than 70 years, polymer specialist Rheumadic has partnered with companies and physicians to develop solutions for medical and pharmaceutical applications.

As a development partner, manufacturer and service provider, Roumedic has a range of experts – constantly generating critical market insights – not only by looking at data, but also by developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and decision makers in the market. By.

For this special edition of Med-Tech Innovation News, four experts from Roumedic agreed to share their most important learnings and personal insights – and their implications for the industry.

Chronic diseases, home care and patient comfort: growing demand for miniature components

Lena Wagner, Product Manager for Drug Delivery, said: “The growth projections for the drug delivery market are impressive. But it is more important to understand the mechanisms and factors driving this growing demand. There are many interrelated trends and events happening at the same time .

“First, there has been an unfortunate increase in chronic diseases around the world. Diabetes is just one notable example of what is colloquially called a “disease of civilization”. Through globalization and modernization, sedentary lifestyles – other unhealthy lifestyles With alternatives – adopted by people in countries that are experiencing an increase in the standard of living.

Second, we are witnessing the dawn of an era of home care. With an aging population and demographic imbalance, we are entering an era of elderly care on an unprecedented scale. This, in turn, would be a strain on the public budget. Home care may prove to be the silver bullet. Through modern dosing and injection equipment, the therapy would require very little personal treatment in a doctor’s office – offering a possible future chance of reigniting public care costs. Also, most people prefer the option of remote treatments at the comfort of their home.

Third, the rise of chronic diseases and home care share a common theme: the need for regular subcutaneous injections of pharmaceuticals – while ensuring patient comfort. This often requires wearable medical devices with smaller components – as well as softer nozzles that won’t irritate patients when they remain under the skin for long periods of time.

That’s why, in my work at Rheumadic, I’ve clearly seen an increase in demand for disposables for wearables as well as highly complex miniaturized components like drug channels. We also strive to stay ahead of the curve with innovations such as our patented soft cannula from a single mold. This provides great comfort to patients – and the ability for customers to eliminate multiple steps of the procedure – as well as development and manufacturing costs.

The future of syringe plungers: new material to replace rubber?

Simone Marquardt, Senior Account Manager, “Many people in medtech still assume that syringe plungers are made of perforated rubber by default. However, I see a gradual but decisive shift in the market – away from rubber and towards new and innovative materials. And there are good reasons for this.

“The advanced material contains fewer additives than rubber, allowing significantly less clearance to be released when a drug is administered with a syringe. This prevents negative effects on drug formulation and unwanted physiological effects in the patient’s body. Helps tremendously in triggering reactions.

“Also, the manufacturing process of stumping rubber has major disadvantages. It leaves behind particles that have to be washed off with great effort. With washing, in turn, there is a risk of cleaning up residues that react with the drug during clinical use.

“Speaking of use – I often get direct feedback from clinical personnel, which is what we found in an in-house study at Rheumadic: Improved handling properties of the syringe plunger from the new material – compared to the rubber plunger – literally Can be felt with your hands.

“Another upside: These new materials can be processed via injection molding, so anyone can have syringe plungers manufactured according to individual needs and specifications. Thus, it is no wonder that these new There is more and more talk about plungers based on material blends.

Enhancement of Polymer Tubing by Digital and Smart Technologies

Martin Stoecker, Product Manager for Smartification: The world of medical and pharmaceutical tubing without “smartification” will soon be as unimaginable as today’s world of telecommunications without smart phones.

But who would benefit from this? Contrary to what many might think, these are not classical instrument makers – but rather niche specialists. The business models of many medical device manufacturers are currently in a phase of transformation. In the future, companies specializing solely in classic device technology will not be able to maintain their market share.

In contrast, businesses specializing in materials, electronic hardware, and software will benefit from the smartization trend. Smart applications with real added value can be developed only by matching digital with content.

Specialist companies should thus primarily rely on and expand on their experience in their area of ​​core competence – and then incorporate the innovative digital capability at every possible process stage. This allows them to stay ahead of the curve and drive meaningful innovation to the market.

As polymer experts, we at Rheumadic have done just that. One result is the patented “Integrated Tube Connector” (ITC), developed to measure parameters and record data at various points on a tube. Universally applicable, it can be attached to any medical and pharmaceutical tubing system.

Whether as a mono sensor or multi sensor device, with or without medium contact – Roumedic’s platform solution offers the potential for many different applications – for example steering life based on parameters measured by ITC – Support-machines and big machine through communicate interface function.

Fluid Handling: Pharma Companies Diversifying Supply Chain for Tubing

Nina Kaiser, Head of Sales Pharma: “Unprecedented disruptions to global supply chains are causing adjustments in procurement strategies. Pharma- and biotech companies are not exempt from this – quite the contrary.

“While the availability of products dealing with raw materials and finished liquids was not a primary concern for a long time, the disruption of a global pandemic and the permanent return of geostrategic power struggles have brought back long-forgotten concerns of product availability and shortages. Have given.

“Also, the demand for pharma fluid tubing is set to grow at huge rates. This provides an opportunity to unknown suppliers in the market to emerge as the second, third or fourth supplier.

“In many cases, original equipment manufacturers of pharma tubing are supplying to large companies who, in turn, resell the purchased tubing under their own brands. These types of manufacturers are often looking to diversify their customer base.

“Pharma companies wishing to diversify their supply chain are advised to seek a supplier company that meets three criteria:

1. Proven capability in manufacturing pharma tubing for a well known large pharma corporation who resold the product under their own name.
2. Long-term agreements with raw material suppliers. This is usually the case with large and globally operated family-owned businesses with a culture of long-term thinking.
3. Additional manufacturing capacity to ensure quick implementation and general readiness.