FUJIFILM and SHL Medical Partner to Expand Auto Injector Production

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and SHL Medical have announced a strategic partnership to meet the growing demand for autoinjector medicines. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, one of the world's leading contract development and production companies, has entered into an alliance with SHL Medical, a major supplier of advanced drug delivery systems, to increase its capacity and efficiency for pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. A significant step forward in the delivery of patient centric medicines through advanced autoinjector technology is represented by this nonexclusive agreement.

The partnership will see FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies expanding its finished goods autoinjector services, offering pre-validated final assembly services for SHL's flagship platform, Molly®. This will allow the company to boost production capacity to 30 million units per year by early 2025, enhancing the efficiency of manufacturing and distribution processes for self-injection devices.

Autoinjectors are gaining popularity for their ease of usage and patient-centric design, allowing patients to self-administer medication through subcutaneous or intramuscular routes. It also offers convenience and reduce the risk of drug contamination. As chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity continue to rise, the use of pre-filled autoinjectors is expected to grow at a rate of approximately 10% per year through 2030. 

Kenneth Bilenberg, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, commented, “Partnering with SHL will expand our ability to offer top-quality, high-speed final assembly of autoinjectors. Having access to SHL’s network will help us better support customers and improve patient access using autoinjector medicines.”

Christian Houborg, Site Head at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies' Denmark site, emphasized the partnership's impact on sustainability: “Our increased capacity and capabilities will save customers time and money, while reducing their products' carbon footprint by centralizing services in Denmark.”

Markus Puusepp, SHL Medical's Chief Growth Officer, noted that many customers with manufacturing infrastructure in Europe have sought a reliable partner for final assembly. “We are pleased to recommend FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, confident that this collaboration will support faster timelines and a more sustainable manufacturing footprint.”

With this strategic partnership, the autoinjector market is poised to meet the demands of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries while offering patient-centric solutions that are both efficient and environmentally conscious.