How WIM Ject® Positions Itself as a Flexible Partner in the Market for Prefillable Syringes - Interview with Tom Van Ginneken

Das Tub-/Nest-Verpackungssystem nach ISO-Standard ist in der Pharmaindustrie weit verbreitet und sorgt für einen sicheren Transport sowie eine reibungslose automatisierte Weiterverarbeitung. Wirthwein Medical stellt sowohl die Tubs als auch das 100er-Nest vollständig im eigenen Haus her. / The tub/nest packaging system, designed in accordance with ISO standards, is widely adopted in the pharmaceutical industry for secure transport and seamless automated processing. Wirthwein Medical produces both the tubs and the 100-nest entirely within its own facilities.

Tom Van Ginneken, Business Development Leiter bei Wirthwein Medical, gibt Einblicke in den Markt für vorfüllbare Spritzen und die Positionierung von WIM Ject®. / Tom Van Ginneken, Head of Business Development at Wirthwein Medical, provides insights into the market for prefillable syringes and the positioning of WIM Ject® .

The market for prefillable plastic syringes has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. The continuously increasing demand and rising requirements for flexible and safe solutions are driving this dynamic development. In this context, Wirthwein Medical is advancing innovation in this field with WIM Ject®.

Wirthwein Medical is renowned for developing and manufacturing innovative components and systems for various medical applications, including blood diagnostics, laboratory diagnostics, PCR, and point-of-care diagnostics, all produced under the highest quality standards. Using advanced technologies and processes, the company manufactures 10 million plastic components and primary packaging systems daily. Among these is WIM Ject®, an off-the-shelf prefillable syringe that is developed and commercialized by Wirthwein Medical.

To gain deeper insights into developments in the market for prefillable syringes and to understand what sets WIM Ject® apart from other providers, we spoke with Tom Van Ginneken, Head of Business Development at Wirthwein Medical.

Could you briefly introduce WIM Ject®?

The WIM Ject® portfolio of prefillable syringes is made from cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), a highly inert material that offers several advantages over traditional glass systems. Thanks to its unique properties, the COC material prevents ion leaching, contains no heavy metals, maintains stable pH levels, and significantly reduces protein adsorption, delivering superior performance compared to glass alternatives.

Combined with carefully selected rubber components and an innovative reactive, cross-linked siliconization process, the WIM Ject® syringe minimizes the risk of subvisible particles and ensures drug stability for up to 3 years. This robust design is shatterproof and offers exceptional optical clarity while adhering to the highest quality standards. These features make it ideal for a wide range of applications, including aesthetic injections, mRNA vaccines, biologics, and emergency medicine.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for the pharmaceutical industry in the field of prefillable syringes?

The market for prefillable syringes is growing rapidly, driven by increasing demand for biologics, mRNA vaccines, metabolism and weight management therapies, and advanced drug delivery systems. However, this growth brings several challenges that manufacturers and healthcare providers must address to ensure safe, innovative, and scalable solutions.

To meet this demand without further escalating healthcare costs, the industry must expand production capacities, establish robust and sustainable supply chains, and remain cost-efficient at the same time.

Additionally, the rising focus on ergonomic and safe drug administration has led to the development of a wide variety of drug delivery devices. This diversity, combined with the specific requirements of the drugs and their intended uses, makes selecting the optimal prefillable syringe increasingly complex. Pharmaceutical manufacturers must consider factors such as material compatibility, sterility, and user-friendliness to identify the best solution for their applications. At the same time, the healthcare sector’s ambitious climate goals are driving the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for prefillable syringes. This combination of market demand, patient-centered innovation, and sustainability challenges highlights the need for continuous advancements in the prefillable syringe industry.

What sets WIM Ject® apart, and which key features are most significant for your market position?

The WIM Ject® syringe may not be the first COC syringe on the market, but it stands out as a top-tier solution due to its unique combination of features.

Firstly, the syringe and its secondary packaging are designed to seamlessly align with market standards. This compatibility simplifies second sourcing, provides added flexibility, and enhances supply chain resilience.

Moreover, many larger pharmaceutical packaging companies do not offer tailored solutions. At Wirthwein Medical, customization is at the core of our approach. Since we manage every step in-house—from development and tooling to production and assembly—we excel in delivering bespoke solutions tailored to specific customer requirements.

This expertise is backed by over 75 years of experience. Wirthwein Medical produces more than 2 billion primary packaging units annually for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic markets, helping its customers bring innovative solutions to life.

WIM Ject® embodies this legacy, offering both quality and customization to meet the highest industry standards.

Why is it important to have a reliable second-source supplier, and how does WIM Ject® help address supply chain challenges?

Relying on a single supplier for an entire drug family poses significant risks, no matter how reliable the supplier may be. Unexpected events—such as supply chain disruptions, manufacturing issues, or quality concerns—can arise and jeopardize supply continuity. Implementing a multi-source strategy, which has proven effective for glass syringes for decades, mitigates these risks.

A multi-source approach enhances supply security through risk diversification, ensures consistent quality assurance through competition and redundancy, and offers opportunities for cost optimization by leveraging competitive pricing.

You mentioned Wirthwein Medical’s extensive experience in customized manufacturing. What advantages does this bring to the production of WIM Ject® and its customers?

At Wirthwein Medical, we combine the strength of a global company with the agility of a startup to deliver fast, flexible, and customer-focused solutions. Customer-centricity is at the heart of everything we do. With in-house development teams, proprietary mold-making, and advanced prototyping capabilities, we tailor syringe systems precisely to your needs.

Our approach ensures the fastest, simplest, and most cost-effective path to your ideal solution, setting a new standard for customized excellence.

How does Wirthwein Medical's decades of experience in plastics influence the quality and development of WIM Ject®?

For decades, we have been committed to delivering high-quality healthcare solutions that contribute to people’s well-being. As a leading system supplier of medical packaging, our innovations touch countless lives worldwide. Quality is our top priority and is embedded in every step of our process to ensure excellence you can rely on.

With deep expertise in polymer production and processing, it’s not just our technical knowledge—it’s our passion. You can trust us to provide the reliability and quality that your healthcare needs demand.