CCL helps Weston's innovative injector through the development process

Cambridge Consultants Limited (CCL®) is using its experience in the design and development of medical devices that meet international standards to help a start-up company launch an innovative needleless injector.

Weston Medical Limited of Suffolk has a novel design for a needleless injector, the Intraject, that can perform subcutaneous injections with reduced pain to the patient and with no risk of needlestick injury. But without going through extensive approval processes in the UK and US, it can never see the light of day. CCL are helping Weston Medical to deal with the various regulatory requirements of the FDA in the US and the MCA here in Britain, in order to get its invention to market quickly and easily.

The Intraject mechanism is simple, cheap and reliable, and is supplied complete with a prefilled drug cartridge. Instead of a needle, Intraject uses a high pressure jet of liquid to deliver an accurate dose of medicine quickly and extremely safely. Most importantly, Intraject requires no skill to use, and will not operate until it is correctly placed.

CCL is assisting Weston in selecting and assessing reliable subcontractors, and is helping to manage the progression of the Intraject from a working prototype to a mass-market device. Essential to this process is CCL's familiarity in dealing with the regulatory bodies, and experience of the standards they demand. Weston Medical's relationship with CCL also lends it credibility in its dealings with multinational pharmaceutical companies.

CCL's understanding of the requirements of both regulator and client has meant the Intraject, first presented to it in 1996, may be marketed in Europe as early as the end of 1998.

With an annual worldwide market for single-use, subcutaneous injections of over two billion doses, the scale-up in production of the Intraject will require a company experienced in developing healthcare products and the associated production machinery, and the future for the partnership between CCL and Weston Medical is extremely promising.

Notes for editors:

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide. For over 50 years, the company has been helping its clients turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether they are launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 300 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, transport, energy, cleantech and wireless communications.

Created by three Cambridge graduates in 1960, the company has grown into a leading technology business, renowned worldwide for its ability to solve technical problems and provide innovative, practical solutions to commercial issues. In 2009, the company was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, and in 2011 was awarded a second Queen's Award, this time for Innovation. For more information visit: www.CambridgeConsultants.com

Cambridge Consultants is part of Altran, global leader in innovation and high-tech engineering consulting. Altran supports companies in the creation and development of their new products and services. For thirty years, the Group has been providing services to key players in the fields of Aerospace, Automotive, Energy, Railways, Finance, Healthcare, and Telecoms. Present at every stage of project development from new-technology strategic planning through to manufacturing, Altran is able to capitalise on its expertise in four key domains: Product Lifecycle Management, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering & Embedded Systems and IT Systems. With a global network of 17,000 collaborators (including 15,000 consultants) and 500 major clients throughout the world, the Group reported sales of €1,420m in 2011. More info: www.altran.com

For further information:

Cambridge Consultants

Patrick Pordage
Marketing Communications Director
Tel: +44 1223 420024
Patrick.Pordage@CambridgeConsultants.com