Ypsomed Advances Drug-Delivery Devices to the Next Level

YpsoMate On’s integrated electronics are detachable from the syringe to support recycling, re-use, or take-back.

Daphne Allen

November 22, 2021

2 Min Read
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The YpsoMate from YpsomedImage courtesy of Ypsomed

Ypsomed has found a way to balance patient convenience and connectivity with sustainability. The company has launched YpsoMate On, calling it “the world’s first autoinjector for prefilled syringes with integrated connectivity.” The new device also supports the company’s goal to have CO2-neutral production by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions along the entire value creation chain by 2040, Ypsomed reported in a news release.

All of YpsoMate On’s electronic components are situated in a “separable element” of the autoinjector, according to the company.

“YpsoMate On is designed with a focus on separability for take-back, re-use, or recycling of its components,” Didier Plaschy, PR & Marketing Communication Manager for Ypsomed, told MD+DI. “The connectivity module is integrated into the end cap and can be separated from the syringe and the device parts.

“Connectivity implies the use of materials, that aren’t per se sustainable. But we are convinced of the positive effects of digital health,” continued Plaschy. “So we’re trying to reduce to a max. And we have eco design principles in place seeking to reduce the product’s footprint.”

These principles include:

  • Sustainable materials and optimized supply chain that minimize the environmental footprint

  • Connectivity module and device components that can be recovered through take-back programs

  • Easy separation of battery and electronics to simplify recycling

YpsoMate On builds on Ypsomed’s previous connected autoinjector, the SmartPilot, as well as Ypsomate Zero, which Ypsomed called “the world’s first zero-carbon-emission prefilled autoinjector.”

“The SmartPilot is an add-on for existing pens, whereas the YpsoMate On is new in the way it that all the connectivity parts fully integrated,” said Plaschy.

Integrated connectivity is important for today’s market. “YpsoMate On includes an advanced Bluetooth proximity measurement protocol, which automatically connects the injection device and the smartphone. This simplifies the user journey by removing the need for pairing. The injection data is automatically transferred to the user's therapy management app and the associated cloud.”

Demand for digital health and connected devices continues to grow. Verified Market Research valued the global digital health market to be US$96,794.51 million in 2020 and predicts it will hit US$325,730.94 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 16.13% from 2021 to 2028.

About the Author

Daphne Allen

Design News

Daphne Allen is editor-in-chief of Design News. She previously served as editor-in-chief of MD+DI and of Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News and also served as an editor for Packaging Digest. Daphne has covered design, manufacturing, materials, packaging, labeling, and regulatory issues for more than 20 years. She has also presented on these topics in several webinars and conferences, most recently discussing design and engineering trends at MD&M West 2024 and leading an Industry ShopTalk discussion during the show on artificial intelligence. She will be moderating the upcoming webinar, Best Practices in Medical Device Engineering and will be leading an Automation Tour at Advanced Manufacturing Minneapolis. She will also be attending DesignCon and MD&M West 2025.

Daphne has previously participated in meetings of the IoPP Medical Device Packaging Technical Committee and served as a judge in awards programs held by The Tube Council and the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council. She also received the Bert Moore Excellence in Journalism Award in the AIM Awards in 2012.

Follow Daphne on X at @daphneallen and reach her at [email protected].

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