New launches into epinephrine injection device market could transform the space, says GlobalData

Data and analytics company, GlobalData, has revealed that it believes new launches into the epinephrine injection device market will have the potential to completely transform the space.

For the past decade, the epinephrine injection market has been dominated by Mylan with its EpiPen, with no generic versions and few comparable alternatives available for patients. However, Sandoz and Teva have entered the market through partnerships and may cause a huge shift in the field.

In July this year (2018), it was announced that Sandoz would be the commercialisation partner of Adamis Pharmaceuticals for the production of its epinephrine pre-filled syringe, Symjepi.

Then, in August, Teva revealed that its abbreviated new drug application for a generic epinephrine auto-injector was finally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The product, which uses Antares Pharma’s VIBEX auto-injection platform, is the first to be designated as a therapeutic equivalent to the EpiPen and as such can be substituted at the pharmacy.

According to GlobalData, the fact that both Sandoz and Teva have significant financial resources available to them (compared to other products that have been released by smaller companies) will enable them to draw significant market share from Mylan.

“Importantly, Sandoz and Teva will have the resources to enact powerful marketing strategies,” stated Rose Joachim, PhD, pharma analyst at GlobalData. “Mylan transformed the EpiPen into a billion-dollar product through its own marketing campaign, making the device as ubiquitous as Kleenex in the public lexicon. It is clear that a similar focus on marketing will be necessary to elevate any other product in this market.”

When looking at the two products from Sandoz and Teva, however, GlobalData specifies that Teva’s has the advantage due to the fact that is a generic product capable of being a substitute to the EpiPen at the pharmacy level.

Although, the unique manual injection design of Symjepi could draw a following and if it is as natural to use as the company claims, then its design and small size could prove to be important factors in getting patients to switch devices.

“The events of this summer are likely to really shake up the epinephrine injection device market,” concluded Joachim. “GlobalData believes that if powerful generics giants like Sandoz and Teva can navigate the space successfully, the eventual launch of their devices will continue to transform the space for the foreseeable future.”