Adamis pre-filled epinephrine syringe With a new commercialization deal involving the Swiss drug giant Novartis, a pre-filled syringe alternative to epinephrine auto-injectors is closer to entering the marketplace.
In early July, Adamis Pharmaceuticals announced that Sandoz, a Novartis division, bought the rights to market its epinephrine device, a pre-filled 0.3 mg-dose syringe called Symjepi.
The epinephrine syringe is about four inches long and “fits in the palm of your hands,” according to Mark Flather, senior director of investor relations and corporate communications at Adamis.
A pre-filled syringe is a more basic design than an auto-injector, which has a mechanism to fire the needle along with the medicine. With a pre-filled syringe, one presses down on a plunger to give the medicine via a needle.
While pricing has not been disclosed, at the time of FDA approval, Flather said: “We do anticipate to be positioning this product as the low cost alternative to the current offerings and that includes the authorized generic EpiPen.”
The dosage in this syringe is intended for patients who weigh 66 pounds or more. The company is waiting for FDA approval of its 0.15 mg-dose Symjepi, meant for younger patients who weigh between 33 and 65 pounds. Flather said they expect the FDA’s decision by the second half of 2018.
Under the commercialization and distribution agreement, the two companies will share net profits and Sandoz will have commercial rights of the 0.3 mg product as well as the 0.15 mg device, if approved by the FDA.
