Powderject, Needle-Free Injection, Product Design

Powderject

Needle-free injection devices

Challenge:

As a spin-out from Oxford University, Oxford BioSciences (later Powderject) came to Kinneir Dufort for assistance in translating their novel pan-dermal (needle-less syringe) technology into usable, manufacturable and cost-effective designs for a variety of clinical applications.

Solution:

Working in close liaison with Powderject we developed and prototyped the internal mechanisms, the design for assembly and the external look, feel and usability for an entire range of pan-dermal drug delivery devices. Our Looks-Like Works-Like prototypes, made in quantities up to several hundred, were vitally important in enabling Powderject to present and demonstrate their technology to the media and to investors globally.

Results:

With the help of Kinneir Dufort’s rigorous design input and high quality prototypes Powderject rapidly achieved a strong business platform, generating intense media interest and investment funding, leading to a focus on the vaccines sector and the acquisition by US vaccines company Chiron for £542M.

As needle-free technologies developed, the dry powder based system found particular application in the area of DNA vaccines. Now acquired by Pfizer, the needle-free injector systems envisioned by Kinneir Dufort with the pioneering team at Powderject will provide new solutions in immunotheraputics.