BD's Unique Vaccine Delivery System Offers Needle-Free Alternative

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), one of the largest manufacturers of drug delivery systems with more than 100 years of experience, has introduced BD Accuspray, an innovative nasal drug delivery system that is used to administer FluMistä (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal), the first FDA-approved influenza vaccine delivered as a nasal spray and available in the United States for healthy people. The BD Accuspray system employs a single-use, nasal sprayer for single or split unit dose delivery designed to enhance the ease of administration for physicians and patients.

Each year, an estimated 17 to 50 million people are infected with influenza in the US and many believe the fear of needles, or needle phobia, may be one of the major reasons these figures remain so high. Needle phobia can lead to avoidance of necessary and important vaccines, like an annual flu shot, and prevent patients from getting effective protection. However, with the introduction of this innovative nasal vaccine delivery system, patients now have a needle-free alternative for fighting the flu.

"The BD Accuspray Nasal Delivery System provides patients with a new option for flu vaccine delivery," said Randy McKay, vice president and general manager, BD Pharmaceutical Systems. "The ease of use and convenient delivery of the BD Accuspray system may help increase compliance for flu shots, as well as make the system an attractive option for the delivery of a variety of other important vaccines."

The BD Accuspray system incorporates the proven performance of the BD Hypak prefillable syringe system, making it the only nasal drug delivery system on the market that enables a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company to use the same state-of-the-art filling equipment, used for hypodermic syringe filling. Combined with a holder system, the BD Accuspray system allows for accurate and controlled dosing, as well as easy handling.

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products.

BD Accuspray and BD Hypak are trademarks of Becton, Dickinson and Company.

Source: BD