Wearable injectors are delivery systems that adhere to the body to administer large amounts (greater than 2 mL) of medication subcutaneously over an extended period. Wearable injectors, unlike insulin pumps, are single-use systems that are worn comfortably on the body, while the medication is administered subcutaneously over a pre-programmed period. They are removed from the body and readily disposed of upon complete injection of the dose. They are designed to deliver medication to the patient, often automatically through a needle, which means the patient cannot miss a treatment or follow their medication incorrectly.
Wearable injectors, also known as patch injectors or patch sticks, are specifically designed for the easy distribution of medications through the skin. Unlike the syringe that has to be threaded into the skin, these wearables can be worn on the skin without any difficulty. Many pharma companies have designed wearable injectors for administering medication. The patch consists of a disposable cannula for medication injection, a syringe for medication administration into the blood, and a power source to deliver the right amount of drug into the body. Each product contains a dose, which is appropriate to a specific patient.
Most products contain anti-toxic medication or inactive ingredients to minimize the risks of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The wearable injector can hold a drug volume of up to 2.5 ml. Such injectors are disposable, low cost, easy to handle, and allow self-administration. Its safe and convenient disposable system benefits people who have needle phobia. Thus, with the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, oncology, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular diseases worldwide, the demand for wearable injectors is also increasing.
For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes (about one in ten), and around 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Moreover, in February 2020, Becton, Dickinson, and Company (US) announced the completion of a 50-subject human clinical trial with the BD Libertas Wearable Injector. The injector is designed to deliver biologics with viscosities up to 50 cP in 2-5 mL and 5-10 mL configurations. However, the use case and cost of wearable injectors mean that they are not likely to replace prefilled syringes and auto-injectors.