Project description
Patients can look forward to safer syringes to help them treat their chronic conditions
Injection moulding is used by the huge global plastics industry to produce a variety of industrial and consumer goods. More recently, the technique that was first patented in 1872 as a machine more like a large syringe is now being used to make pre-filled syringes. While micro-injection moulding has evolved into a field of its own, the current generation of rubber syringe plungers face limitations in terms of leaching and mechanical discomfort of use. miPLUNGER has developed materials and techniques leading to cost-efficient sterile production of a smooth-gliding plunger element free of harmful chemicals that can leach into the stored product. With EU support, the team is conducting the feasibility study needed to get it to market.
Objective
The global pre-filled syringes (PFS) market has currently a volume of more than 4 billion USD and is growing with a CAGR of 10% due to the increase of chronic diseases, growing demand of biologics and biosimilars and a high penetration rate of autoinjection devices. The segment of autoinjectors grows even faster with a CAGR of 24%. But there are challenges, that cannot be fully solved by the current generation of rubber syringe plungers. Biologics are very sensitive to any leachables, that can be extracted from the syringe components. Self-injection devices need an excellent gliding behaviour of the plunger to minimise patients pain-experience during the injection.
The innovative miPLUNGER can solve these challenges by introducing a cost-efficient two component TPE/PFA plunger element, that is manufactured in a reliable two-step micro injection moulding process. The new material is inherently free of any harmful leachables and provides excellent gliding behaviour. The process allows a cost-efficient sterile production under cleanroom conditions in just two process steps and a high flexibility in the plunger design.
MDX’ customers are the PFS manufacturers, the primary users of miPLUNGER will be producers of sensitive high-value drugs and those of advanced self-injection devices. MDX will cooperate with them early in their drug and device development to create a growing market for miPLUNGER. By making and selling its new plungers to the PFS producers, MDX anticipates a turnover of 9.6 million €, and an total staff headcount of 28 employees in 2024.
In the feasibility study, a detailed analysis of the best-fitting market segments will be conducted, including the cooperation with pilot customers for the validation of the business idea, as well as the elaboration of a thorough business plan for commercialisation. The results of the feasibility study will be integrated into the subsequent SME Phase 2 project to facilitate the commercial launch of miPLUNGER.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
78652 Deisslingen
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.