Thursday, September 8, 2011

Needle-Based or Needle-Free The Choice Turns on Volume.

Cost per unit can crush the hopes of makers a new technology no matter how novel and how many features it has.   One example is RFID systems.  While their applications are myriad in healthcare, and revenues have grown, they remain expensive on  a per unit basis.  Outside of the high-need situations (like very expensive biologic drugs which can pay for the tag cost), a simple 2 D or 3D bar code will do. 

This article in Healthcare Finance News which cites Kalorama's needle-free  drug delivery system market numbers indicates the same dynamic with needle-free systems.  Their adoption, we think, will turn on decisions about cost per unit.  In high volume applications, needle-free provides savings over standard syringes.  But the initial cost of the needle-free is high.  Cheaper systems may be needed to continue growth in this category.