I am currently President of Haselmeier, Inc. and manage Haselmeier’s business in the United States. Previously, I was Senior VP & General Manager of Meridian Medical Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals, where I was responsible for Meridian’s drug delivery and contract manufacturing services. Prior to Meridian, I launched BD’s Advanced Injection Systems and was responsible for worldwide business development and marketing of drug delivery technologies.
The complexity of integrating drug delivery technology with a pharmaceutical product requires that pharmaceutical companies begin the selection process for a delivery platform early in the development timeline. Too many companies begin evaluating their drug delivery device at a late stage and do not have a device that’s ready for commercialization with the necessary testing and documentation at the time the drug is ready for submission.
We are constantly looking to improve how patients self-inject their medications and anticipate that technology will play a greater role in the coming years to make it easier and safer. Devices will provide for more patient interface and potentially interact with other technologies that patients use to monitor their health. Better data keeping will
provide healthcare providers to improve their treatment regimen which will result in a better quality of life for patients.
We anticipate that our product portfolio will become broader to meet the increasing number of patent segments. Some delivery devices will be more functional while other will integrate sophisticated technology and provide interaction between the patient and healthcare provider.
1. Indentify the need. We work closely with new customers to identify their needs and select the best drug delivery technology based on their product requirements.
2. Create a plan. It’s critical to develop a comprehensive timeline with action items and due dates to ensure that everyone understands what is required, how long it will take and what are the potential risks if we don’t stay on schedule.
3. Communication. Regardless of how well a plan is designed, it will not work if the parties do not communicate. We understand and expect that changes or unexpected events will occur during the develop process. This is why frequent and open communication must take place if the project is to achieve it goal.
Today’s competitive market requires suppliers provide convenient, efficient, and safe devices. Pharmaceutical companies are looking for delivery devices that are already tested and ready for production, helping them get to market as quickly as possible.
Customers are constantly trying to balance selection of a low cost, generic device versus a high quality, customized device designed to function with their primary drug container. Customers need to carefully consider the image a delivery device conveys about their company and product, as well as the potential for complaints and risks from a low quality product that has not been properly tested.
In the area of self injection devices, we have observed an increase in requirements for human factor testing from regulatory authorities. This testing is to ensure patients
understand the proper use of the device. The result is drug packaging that contains not only the drug product and device, but also increased emphasis on the “Instructions for Use”. We now see instructions for use in both printed and electronic formats and extensive reference to websites dedicated to patient support.
I see technology becoming integrated into all forms of packaging in the future, resulting in packaging that can reduce the potential of counterfeit products, making labeling easier to understand and increased interaction between patients and pharmaceutical companies via electronic media.
“Identify the need, create a plan and most importantly communicate”
Name: Robert J. Kilgore
Designation: President
Organization: Haselmeier, Inc.
