Packaging

PolyOne GLS VersaflexTM TPE Helps Patients Get a Grip on Award-Winning Syringe Designed by OXO

Thursday 10. February 2011 - Soft, flexible, non-slip material enhances ease of use and comfort of innovative home-use prefilled syringe

PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers, a global leader in high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomer solutions (TPEs), today announced that its GLS VersaflexTM OM 1060X-9 TPE was a large component in an award-winning prefilled syringe designed by OXO, a New York-based consumer products brand, for UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader. The syringe and its secondary components were designed for use with UCB’s CIMZIA (certolizumab pegol), a prescription medication for adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis or adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional treatments.
This innovative syringe system was developed to help patients suffering with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and takes into account specific dexterity challenges some patients may face when self-administering their medication. It is also available to Crohn’s disease patients taking Cimzia for subcutaneous self-administration.
Specially designed to offer patients comfort and control, its features include a non-slip finger grip and an overmolded ergonomic thumb pad, both molded from the TPE material. The soft feel, flexibility and resilience of Versaflex OM 1060X-9 helps with the overall usability of the syringe, while the non-slip grip reinforces the OXO Good Grips brand. PolyOne GLS is exhibiting Versaflex TPEs and other materials for the healthcare industry here at MDM West, in booth 1701.
“Our TPEs excel in improving the user friendliness, ergonomics and safety of consumer products, from medical devices to tools to recreational equipment,” said Rick Noller, director of global marketing, PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers. “We’re very pleased that our Versaflex material helped OXO and UCB to address longstanding usability issues apparent with standard syringe design. With the strong trend toward greater use of home medical care, we foresee many new applications for GLS TPEs in medical devices, because our materials help empower patients to do more for themselves.”
The CIMZIA syringe has received numerous accolades for its design, including an Ease-of-Use Commendation from the Arthritis Foundation and a 2010 IDEA Silver award in the Medical category, and has been featured in Fast Company and Smart Design.
“OXO is known globally for innovative household tools, but this was the first time we extended our equity into healthcare,” said Alex Lee, President of OXO. “One of the crucial elements in the development of the syringe was to accommodate users with different grip styles and strengths. GLS Versaflex TPEs enabled us to deliver on comfort, ease of use and a secure grip, as well as an attractive appearance. The outstanding design flexibility of the GLS thermoplastic elastomer played an important role in the success of our breakthrough concept, and its soft-touch grip is helping patients with the self-administration of their medication.”
GLS Versaflex OM 1060X-9 TPE helps with the usability, safety and precision of the CIMZIA device. The non-slip finger grip allows the syringe to be held steadily with various grip positions, even by individuals with painful arthritis in their hands, while the thumb pad provides cushioned, stable leverage that allows these patients to push the plunger with improved force and accuracy.
This opaque, black overmolding grade is an ideal choice for applications requiring a soft, rubbery feel, excellent surface aesthetics and effective bonding to a variety of plastic substrates.