Named as 'Erypro Safe' and 'Nufil Safe', the products, developed using the new syringe, are launched in collaboration with California-based firm Safety Syringes, which makes syringes for vaccines and other medicines.
While Erypro Safe is used in the treatment of chronic kidney disease, Nufil Safe is used for cancer patients.
"Pre-filled syringes are advantageous for self-injecting patients and the medical, para-medical staff. They are very easy to use and come with a needle guard and a retractable needle. Hence they reduce the chances of needle stick injuries which often expose patients, health workers and doctors to chances of catching infections like HIV and hepatitis B," said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD, Biocon, during the launch of the product on Wednesday in Bangalore.
With the new device, the patient can be injected the drug conveniently, without drawing the medicine into a syringe from a vial and measuring it. The syringe has improved needle sharpness of five bevel size as against the regular three bevel size. This reduces the pain the patient perceives during injection by 25 per cent.
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"Pre-filled syringe is a relatively new concept in India. Biocon aims to provide this safe device at an affordable price," said Mazumdar-Shaw. Erypro Safe, 2000 IU, is priced at Rs 715, whereas Nufil Safe 0.5 ml, will cost Rs 1,975.
Though erythropoietin used by chronic kidney patients and the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor used in the treatment of cancer, are currently made available in India in pre-filled syringe form by other companies, this is the first time in the country that Biocon has launched it in a syringe form, adding the safety device needle feature, said Rakesh Bamzai, president, marketing, Biocon. Companies like Johnson and Johnson market pre-filled syringes in India.
Biocon has spent about Rs 20 crore on R&D for this new drug delivery system, Mazumdar-Shaw said. Pre-filled syringes is a Rs 200-300 crore market in India and is growing at a double digit. Biocon, which has a 10 percent market share in the Rs 75-crore erythropoietin segment, aims to take it to 30 per cent in three years with the launch of pre-filled syringes.