WO2022221162A1

WO2022221162A1 - Injection delivery devices for injecting highly viscous medicaments

Info

Publication number: WO2022221162A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/024193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guangli Hu; John B. Cline; Jeffrey C. GIVAND; Michael M. MAIA; Steven Carl Persak
Original assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Llc
Priority date: 2021-04-16
Filing date: 2022-04-11
Publication date: 2022-10-20

Abstract

An injection delivery device comprising a glass pre-filled glass syringe having a glass syringe body that is resistant to fracture or breakage when the glass pre-filled syringe contains a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament and the injection delivery device is used to deliver the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament is described.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

INJECTION DELIVERY DEVICES FOR INJECTING HIGHLY VISCOUS MEDICAMENTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Disclosure

The present invention relates generally to an injection delivery device comprising a glass pre-filled glass syringe having a glass syringe body that is resistant to fracture or breakage when the glass pre-filled syringe contains a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament and the injection delivery device is used to deliver the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament.

(2) Description of Related Art

Pre-filled syringes for use in injection delivery devices are becoming more widely used to deliver medicaments to patients in the form of drug-device combination products (e.g., injection delivery devices also known as autoinjectors). Historically, many drugs not amenable to oral dosing have been provided in a glass vial for either intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous administration. Empty plastic syringes are often utilized by healthcare providers to withdraw the medicament from the supplied glass vial, and then either injected into an IV bag or injected into the patient directly, depending on the formulation of the medicament. In contrast, more parenteral products are now being supplied where the medicament is pre-filled into glass syringes for direct administration, or for assembly into injection delivery devices for administration.

Several challenges have been encountered in the biopharmaceutical field upon entry of the injection delivery devices, particularly with the higher spring loads required to accommodate increased volumes and viscosities of medicaments comprising a biologic. For example, the required silicone oil coating on the inner surface of the glass syringe body to permit the plunger or stopper to glide down the surface with low friction may be poorly distributed, resulting in potential stalling of injections due to high friction areas. Additionally, certain formulations of this coating may be incompatible with the medicament. Dimensional variations in the glass syringe barrels may also lead to challenges in the fit and/or assembly with injection delivery devices. Furthermore, assembly of glass pre-filled syringes into injection delivery devices may result in failure (e.g., fracture or breakage) during use, such as when the barrel and/or flanges of a glass syringe in an injection delivery device might break due to the forces generated by a delivery spring calibrated to deliver a highly viscous medicament and/or large volume of medicament in an injection delivery device when activated.

As medicine has advanced, it has become desirable to develop ways to deliver medicaments that minimize pain and discomfort to the patient. For example, delivery of a medicament comprising a biologic such as an antibody to a patient during an oncology treatment regime is usually provided intravenously in a clinic setting and a single treatment containing a dilute concentration of the biologic might last 30 minutes or more. It would be highly desirable to be able to provide the biologic to the patient in a concentrated form in a small volume such as to allow use of an injection delivery device to deliver the biologic. However, such a biologic in concentrated form and small volume usually results in a highly viscous medicament, which requires use of an injection delivery device capable of delivering the a highly viscous medicament.

While the forces generated during delivery of medicaments of low or moderate viscosity and of small volumes from injection delivery devices are low, thus minimizing the risk of breakage of the glass syringe during use, the forces generated to deliver a highly viscous medicament and/or large volume can be significantly greater, which substantially increases the risk of breakage or fracturing of the glass during use (see for example, Haines et al., International Pharmaceutical Packaging, 8: 88-92 (2016)). Alternative formulations that might reduce the viscosity to a level less likely to result in breakage or fracturing such as providing the medicament in a volume large enough to reduce the viscosity or using a much larger gauge needle than commonly used to administer a medicament from a delivery device are viewed as unsatisfactory as the alternatives may result in administering volumes of medicament similar to the volumes delivered during an in-clinic treatment and a large needle may result in significant pain and discomfort to the patient. Furthermore, a larger volume may require a higher force for delivery thereby negating the benefit of reducing viscosity. Thus, the risk of the glass breaking or fracturing, which may occur during delivery of highly -viscous medicaments, has stifled the development of injection delivery devices for delivery of medicaments that are currently only administered in a clinic setting.

Of interest are U.S. Patent No. 4,015,045, 4,664,655, 9,145,333, 9,505,654, and 10,370,287; EP0974320; U.S. Pubs. 20150246846, 20180305251, 20190050375, and 20190160788. Thus, there exists a need for injection devices that improve upon and advance the methods of manufacturing and safety of such injection delivery devices and pre-filled syringes for dispensing highly viscous medicaments.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a glass syringe body comprising a glass that has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to fracture or breakage when used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament. The treated glass has a greater resistance to breaking or fracturing during delivery of a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament than a glass that has not been treated. In particular embodiments, the glass syringe body comprises a treated glass that has a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 megapascals (MPa) or greater. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is greater than 50 MPa and less than about 1,100 MPa. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is greater than 50 MPa and less than about 300 MPa. The range of compressive stress values is dependent on the glass treatment, which in particular embodiments may be a thermal treatment or an ion exchange treatment, either treatment administered under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce a glass with the aforementioned comparative stress values. The glass syringe body is suitable for use in a syringe, pre-filled syringe, or injection delivery device for delivering a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament that has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise, or in some embodiments a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise. In particular embodiments, the viscosity may be less than 10 centipoise but in a volume of about 2.25 mL. In particular embodiments, the syringe body is assembled into a pre-filled syringe or an injection delivery device to provide a pre-filled syringe or an injection delivery device comprising the glass syringe body in engagement with an advancing member that upon activation delivers the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament to the patient. In general, a large volume of medicament is about 2.25 mL or more.

In particular embodiments, the treated glass is a glass that has been thermally treated or chemically treated to provide a treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture when the glass syringe body comprising the treated glass is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, particularly in embodiments in which the glass syringe body is assembled with components of an injection delivery device to provide an injection delivery device capable of delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament with reduced risk of breaking or fracturing.

In particular embodiments, the treated glass is a glass in which the outer surface is coated with a polymer (or plastic) to provide a treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass syringe body comprising the treated glass is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, particularly in embodiments in which the glass syringe body is assembled with components of an injection delivery device to provide an injection delivery device capable of delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament with reduced risk of breaking or fracturing.

In particular embodiments, the treated glass is a glass in which the surface that has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws to provide a treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass syringe body comprising the treated glass is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, particularly in embodiments in which the glass syringe body is assembled with components of an injection delivery device to provide an injection delivery device capable of delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament with reduced risk of breaking or fracturing.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the treated glass is capable of withstanding the forces generated during delivery of a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in a volume of about 1.0 to about 2.25 mL or a medicament of a viscosity of less than 10 centipoise but in a volume of about 2.25 mL.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a glass syringe comprising a generally tubular barrel with a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for delivering a medicament including a liquid medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and, plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges a medicament pre-filled in the chamber of the glass syringe through the delivery member, wherein the glass has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass prefilled syringe comprising the glass syringe is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament. In particular embodiments of the glass syringe, the delivery member is a syringe needle. In particular embodiments, the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 (a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and a nominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm).

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the open proximal end of the pre filled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a thermal treatment to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a chemical treatment to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass in which the surface has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is less than about 1,100 MPa. In a particular embodiment, the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of at least 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa or about 1,100 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa. In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the glass pre-filled syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel wall having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

In particular embodiments, the thickness of the generally tubular barrel wall is increased by a factor of 10 to 100 % over the tubular wall when compared to prior art devices. In particular embodiments of the glass syringe, the ratio of the generally tubular barrel wall thickness to the generally tubular barrel length is between 0.01 and 0.1.

In a further embodiment of the pre-filled glass syringe, the pre-filled glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 1.0 mL of a medicament.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the glass syringe comprises a medicament therein, which has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise and/or a volume of about 2,25 mL. In a particular embodiment, the medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

The present invention provides a glass pre-filled syringe comprising a highly viscous medicament and/or large volume of medicament comprising a glass syringe body wherein the glass has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to fracture or breakage during delivery of the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament. The treated glass has a greater resistance to breaking or fracturing during delivery of a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament than a glass that has not been treated. In particular embodiments, the glass pre-filled syringe comprises a treated glass that has a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 megapascals (MPa) or greater. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is greater than 50 MPa and less than about 1,100 MPa. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is greater than 50 MPa and less than about 300 MPa. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa. The range of compressive stress values is dependent on the glass treatment. The glass pre-filled syringe is suitable for delivering a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament that has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise, or in some embodiments a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise. In particular embodiments, the viscosity may be less than 10 centipoise but in a volume of about 2.25 mL. In particular embodiments, the glass pre-filled syringe is assembled into an injection delivery device to provide an injection delivery device comprising the glass pre-filled syringe in engagement with an advancing member that upon activation delivers the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament to the patient. In general, a large volume of medicament is about 2.25 mL or more. In particular embodiments, the treated glass is a glass that has been thermally treated or chemically treated to provide a treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe comprising the treated glass is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, particularly in embodiments in which the glass pre-filled syringe is assembled with components of an injection delivery device to provide an injection delivery device capable of delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament with reduced risk of breaking or fracturing.

In particular embodiments, the treated glass is a glass in which the outer surface is coated with a polymer (or plastic) to provide a treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe comprising the treated glass is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, particularly in embodiments in which the glass pre-filled syringe is assembled with components of an injection delivery device to an injection delivery device capable of delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament with reduced risk of breaking or fracturing.

In particular embodiments, the treated glass is a glass in which the surface that has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws to provide a treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe comprising the treated glass is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, particularly in embodiments in which the glass pre-filled syringe is assembled with components of an injection delivery device to provide an injection delivery device capable of delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament with reduced risk of breaking or fracturing.

In the aforementioned embodiments, the treated glass is capable of withstanding the forces generated during delivery of a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in a volume of about 1.0 to about 2.25 mL or a medicament of a viscosity of less than 10 centipoise but in a volume of about 2.25 mL. In particular embodiments, the glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 1.0 mL of a medicament.

Therefore, the present invention provides a glass syringe comprising a generally tubular barrel with a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for delivering a medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and, plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges a medicament pre-filled in the chamber of the glass syringe through the delivery member, wherein the glass has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe comprising the glass syringe is used to deliver a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament. In particular embodiments, the medicament is a liquid medicament.

In particular embodiments of the glass syringe, the delivery member is a syringe needle. In particular embodiments, the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 (a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and a nominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm).

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the open proximal end of the prefilled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of at least 300 MPa. In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the glass pre-filled syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel wall having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

In a further embodiment of the glass syringe, the glass syringe comprises a medicament therein, which has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise and/or a volume of about 2.25 mL. In a particular embodiment, the medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

The present invention further provides a glass pre-filled syringe comprising a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in a glass syringe comprising a glass that has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture during delivery of the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the glass pre-filled syringe, wherein the glass syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel of the treated glass and having a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and, plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament through the delivery member.

In particular embodiments of the glass pre-filled syringe, the delivery member is a syringe needle. In particular embodiments, the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 (a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and anominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm). In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the open proximal end of the pre-filled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a thermal treatment to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a chemical treatment to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass in which the surface has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is less than about 1,100 MPa. In a particular embodiment, the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa or about 1,100 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of at least 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the glass pre-filled syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel wall having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

In particular embodiments, the thickness of the generally tubular barrel wall is increased by a factor of 10 to 100 % over the tubular wall when compared to prior art devices. In particular embodiments of the glass pre-filled syringe, the ratio of the generally tubular barrel wall thickness to the generally tubular barrel length is between 0.01 and 0.1. In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the pre-filled glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 1.0 mL of a medicament.

In a further embodiment of the glass pre-filled syringe, the pre-filled glass syringe comprises a medicament therein, which has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise and/or a volume of about 2,25 mL. In a particular embodiment, the medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

The present invention further provides an injection delivery device comprising a glass syringe of the present invention.

The present invention further provides an injection delivery device comprising the aforementioned glass pre-filled syringe.

The present invention further provides an injection delivery device comprising a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in a glass syringe comprising a glass that has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture during delivery of the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the glass syringe, wherein the glass syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel of the treated glass and having a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for delivering the highly viscous medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and, plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in the chamber through the delivery member. In particular embodiments, the medicament is a liquid medicament.

In particular embodiments of the injection delivery device, the delivery member is a syringe needle. In particular embodiments, the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 (a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and anominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm).

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the open proximal end of the pre-filled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture. In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a thermal treatment to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a chemical treatment to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass in which the surface has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater. In particular embodiments, the compressive stress has a value that is less than about 1,100 MPa. In a particular embodiment, the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa or about 1,100 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of at least 300 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the glass pre-filled syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel wall having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm. In particular embodiments, the thickness of the generally tubular barrel wall is increased by a factor of 10 to 100 % over the tubular wall when compared to prior art devices. In particular embodiments of the glass syringe, the ratio of the generally tubular barrel wall thickness to the generally tubular barrel length is between 0.01 and 0.1.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the pre-filled glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 1.0 mL of the medicament. In a particular embodiment, the pre-filled glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 2.25 mL of a medicament.

In a further embodiment of the injection delivery device, the pre-filled glass syringe comprises a medicament therein, which has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise. In a particular embodiment, the medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing a glass syringe body for use in a glass pre-filled syringe suitable for delivering a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, comprising forming the glass syringe body comprising a generally tubular barrel and having a closed distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; and, applying at least one additional treatment to strengthen the glass syringe body, the at least one additional treatment being selected from i) adding a clear polymer or plastic to the glass syringe body, ii) applying a thermal treatment to the glass syringe body, iii) applying a chemical treatment to the glass syringe body, and iv) applying a surface treatment to the glass syringe body.

In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, adding a clear polymer or plastic comprises adding a clear polymer or plastic through dip molding to the glass syringe body, and allowing the clear polymer or plastic to naturally cool to apply compressive stress on at least a portion of the glass syringe barrel.

In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, applying a thermal treatment to the glass syringe body comprises heat strengthening the glass syringe barrel.

In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, applying a thermal treatment to the glass syringe body comprises heating the glass to its transition temperature and quenching the syringe barrel in a cold bath.

In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, the cold bath comprises water or liquid nitrogen.

In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, applying a chemical treatment comprises immersing the glass syringe body in a molten salt bath for a predetermined period of time and allowing ions in the glass syringe body and ions in the molten salt bath to be exchanged due to a concentration gradient. In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, applying a surface treatment to the glass syringe body comprises reducing flaw populations in the glass comprising the glass syringe body.

In a further embodiment of the method of manufacturing a glass syringe body, applying a surface treatment to the glass syringe body comprises chemical acid etching of at least some portion of the glass syringe body.

The present invention further includes any one of the aforementioned embodiments wherein the medicament is a liquid medicament.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a glass syringe 200, which view includes needle 220 and plunger 221, and may be manufactured to comprise a medicament within chamber 213 to provide a glass pre-filled syringe that may be assembled into an injection delivery device. The glass comprising the glass syringe 200 has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe or injection delivery device comprising the glass syringe 200 is used to deliver a highly viscous medicament.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a convention prior art hand-held glass prefilled syringe 100 having a fracture F in the glass.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a representative injection delivery device 350 showing a glass pre-filled syringe disposed therein. The glass comprising the glass syringe 300 has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe or injection delivery device comprising the glass syringe 300 is used to deliver a highly viscous medicament.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a stress profile of a glass for use as a pharmaceutical container of the present invention that has been strengthened using a thermal strengthening technique.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a stress profile of a glass for use as a pharmaceutical container of the present invention that is strengthened using an ion exchange strengthening technique. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that these drawings depict only some embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.

Definitions

As used herein, the term “proximal,” when used in connection with a component of a syringe or injector, refers to the end of the component closest to the user’s hands when holding the device, whereas the term “distal,” when used in connection with a component of a syringe or injector, refers to the end of the component furthest away from the user’s hand is typically the end that comprises the delivery member.

As used herein, the terms “high viscosity” or “highly viscous” will refer to medicaments having a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise, or in particular embodiments in between 10 and 150 centipoise.

As used herein, the term “treated glass” refers to glass that has a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater or, in particular embodiments, about 100 MPa to about 1,100 MPa.

As used herein, the term “pre-filled syringe” refers to a glass disposable syringe that is supplied already loaded with the medicament to be injected. A glass pre-filled syringe provides a single dose of a medicament wherein the needle has been fixed by the manufacturer.

In particular embodiments, the pre-filled syringe may provide multiple doses, for example an injection delivery device in which the user may adjust the dose delivered by the device or use the device to deliver multiple doses.

As used herein, the term “injection delivery device” refers to a device for injecting oneself or patient with a single, preloaded dose of a drug that in particular embodiments consists of a spring-loaded syringe that is activated when the device is pushed firmly against the body.

An injection delivery device may also be referred to as an “autoinjector”. An injection delivery device typically comprises a glass pre-filled syringe and a pre-loaded spring as a power source that when activated ejects the medicament from the glass pre-filled syringe into the patient.

Most injection delivery devices are one-use, disposable, spring-loaded syringes.

As used herein, the term “medicament” refers to a drug, formulation, medication, or liquid composition comprising a therapeutic agent, e.g., chemical entity or biologic entity, which may be used to treat a medical condition such as a disease, cancer, infection, allergic response, or disorder. Despite the various improvements that have been made to delivery devices, such as glass pre-filled syringes and injection delivery devices, over the years, delivery devices still comprise a glass that may break or fracture when used to deliver a highly viscous medicament. Currently, delivery devices are widely used to deliver a wide variety of chemical and biological medicaments to patients in a Medical Device Combination form, i.e., the medicament and the delivery device. For delivery devices, there are four essential components, (i) a generally tubular elongated glass barrel pre-filled with a medicament, (ii) an advancing member (plunger rod), (iii) a plunger (stopper), and (iv) a delivery member (e.g., needle), which may be assembled into a glass pre-filled syringe or injection delivery device for dispensing a medicament. The tubular elongated glass barrel, which typically contains a medicament in liquid or other form, e.g., a viscous solution, a slurry, or gel, has the plunger at a proximal end of the glass barrel that seals the end of the glass barrel to prevent leakage of the medicament and a delivery member at the distal end of the glass barrel from which the medicament is ejected upon delivery of the medicament. The advancing member, which can take various forms, is in communication with the plunger and drives the plunger towards the delivery member thereby forcing the medicament through the delivery member.

Liquid medicaments can be provided in a wide range of viscosity. The viscosity of a fluid is a measure of its resistance to deformation at a given rate. For liquids, it corresponds to the informal concept of "thickness": for example, honey has a higher viscosity than water. Viscosity can be conceptualized as quantifying the internal frictional force that arises between adjacent layers of fluid that are in relative motion. For instance, when a fluid is forced through a tube, it flows more quickly near the tube's axis than near its walls. In such a case, experiments show that some stress (such as a pressure difference between the two ends of the tube) is needed to sustain the flow through the tube. This is because a force is required to overcome the friction between the layers of the fluid which are in relative motion: the strength of this force is proportional to the viscosity. Higher viscosity fluid is harder to flow. For example, water has a viscosity of about 1 centipoise at 20°C and honey's viscosity can be on the order of 104 centipoise at room temperature. For medicament delivery purposes, the same pre-filled glass syringe used to deliver either a medicament of high and low viscosity, more force will be required to drive the higher viscosity medicament out of the pre-filled glass syringe at a particular flow rate as compared to the force needed to drive a lower viscosity medicament with similar flow rate out of the glass pre-filled syringe. It has been observed that the higher force needed to drive a highly viscous medicament out of a glass pre-filled syringe may cause the glass comprising the pre-filled glass syringe to fracture during delivery, which is highly undesirable for patient safety and medicament efficacy. If the force is reduced to minimize fracture, the flow rate of the highly viscous medicament will be significantly lower, thus will increase the duration of delivery, which is highly undesirable as well as it increases patient discomfort.

Therefore, there is a need for further improvements to the devices and methods used to safely and effectively deliver a medicament to a patient, especially those medicaments having a relatively high viscosity. The present invention provides glass pe-filled syringes and injection delivery devices that enable delivery of highly viscous medicaments to a patient with a flow rate similar to the flow rate used to deliver a low viscosity medicament without breakage or fracture of the glass during delivery of the medicament to the patient.

For exemplary purposes, a reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows a schematic illustration of the side view of a representative glass syringe, which may be manufactured to comprise a medicament to provide a glass pre-filled syringe that is commonly assembled into an injection delivery device or injection delivery device. Glass syringe 200 comprises a generally tubular barrel 210 with a closed distal end 211 and an open proximal end 212, with a chamber 213 defined by a tubular wall 214 of the tubular barrel 210, which extends between the closed distal end 211 and the proximal end 212. Optionally, at proximal end 212 is flange 215 that extends radially and perpendicularly from tubular wall 214. The closed distal end 211 comprises an extended portion 216 that extends distally from the closed end 211, has a diameter less than the diameter of the tubular barrel 210 such as to form a shoulder 217 between the tubular barrel 210 and the extended portion 216. A delivery member 220 having a lumen that extends the length of the delivery member 220 traverses the length of the extended portion 216 along an axis parallel to the tubular wall 214 of the tubular barrel 210. A plunger 221 located at or near the open proximal end 212 of the tubular barrel 210 is in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall 214 of the tubular barrel 210 and forms a reservoir for holding a medicament between the plunger 221 and the closed distal end 211. The plunger 221 provides for selective engagement with an advancing member (“plunger rod”) of an autoinjection delivery device so that distally directed forces on said plunger 221 via the advancing member urges a medicament pre-filled in chamber 213 of the glass syringe 200 through delivery member 220, wherein the glass has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture when a glass pre-filled syringe or injection delivery device comprising the glass syringe 200 is used to deliver a highly viscous medicament. For exemplary purposes, reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows a schematic illustration of a representative prior art glass pre-filled-syringe 100 wherein the glass has not been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture when the glass pre-filled syringe is used to deliver a highly viscous medicament. Pre-filled glass syringe 100 generally comprises two main portions, a plunger rod 110 and a generally tubular barrel 120. In one embodiment, the generally tubular barrel 120 contains a luer lock. In another embodiment, generally tubular barrel 120 contains a staked needle. Plunger rod 110 generally extends between a proximal end 112 and a distal end 114, and comprises an elongated piston 115 extending between a thumb press 117 and a coupler 119. In one embodiment, piston 115 has a cruciform cross-sectional shape. In one embodiment, thumb press 117 has a circular shape. A generally tubular barrel 120 extends between proximal end 122 and distal end 124 and comprises a body 125 defining a chamber 126 for accepting a portion of plunger rod 110. Body 125 further comprises a flange 127 adjacent proximal end 122, and a removable cap 129 mateable with a hub 128 adjacent distal end 124. Body 125 defines a reservoir “R” that holds a medicament. Body 125 may be formed of glass and the glass may have a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. An internally threaded plunger 130 is disposed inside chamber 126 of body 125. In one embodiment, plunger 130 is made of an elastomeric material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, or combinations thereof, and includes an opening to receive and mate with coupler 119 of plunger rod 110 by advancing the plunger rod inside the barrel chamber 126 and rotating at least one of coupler 119 and stopper 130 relative to the other. As shown, body 125 of the prior art glass pre-filled syringe comprises fracture F.

For exemplary purposes, reference is now made to FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a representative injection delivery device 350 with a glass syringe 300 situated therein comprising a generally tubular barrel 310 with a closed distal end 311 and an open proximal end 312, with a chamber 313 defined by a tubular wall 314 of the tubular barrel 310, which extends between the closed distal end 311 and the proximal end 312. Optionally, at proximal end 312 is a flange 315 that extends radially and perpendicularly from tubular wall 314. The closed distal end 311 comprises an extended portion 316 that extends distally from the closed end 311, has a diameter less than the diameter of the tubular barrel 310 such as to form a shoulder 317 between the tubular barrel 310 and the extended portion 316. A delivery member 320 having a lumen that extends the length of the delivery member 320 traverses the length of the extended portion 316 along an axis parallel to the tubular wall 314 of the tubular barrel 310.

A plunger 321 located at or near the open proximal end 312 of the tubular barrel 310 is in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall 314 of the tubular barrel 310 and forms a reservoir for holding a medicament M between the plunger 321 and the closed distal end 311. The plunger 321 provides for selective engagement with an advancing member (“plunger rod”) 330 of injection delivery device 350 so that distally directed forces on said plunger 321 via the advancing member 330 urges medicament M through delivery member 320, wherein the glass has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture medicament M is highly viscous and/or in a volume of 2.25 mL.

Generally, parenteral formulations of increasingly higher viscosities are becoming more common. This increase in viscosity, that is, the fluid’s resistance to flow, may be due for example to the higher concentration monoclonal antibody and protein formulations required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect from a single injection. A fluid of higher viscosity may be correlated with a need for greater energy to be applied by the user to cause the fluid to flow. For example, for drug delivery purposes from a glass pre-fill ed syringe, more force may be applied to the plunger rod to drive the higher viscosity drug out of the syringe as compared to that of the lower viscosity drug to accomplish a same flow rate.

Without being bound by any particular theory, it has been observed that higher forces applied to the plunger rod (and consequently plunger stopper and liquid formulation) may cause the glass barrel to fracture, for example as shown in FIG. 2 with fracture “F” on the side of the generally tubular barrel 120 during the drug delivery, which is obviously highly undesirable. Application of lower forces may yield acceptable flow rates and delivery times for lower viscosity formulations. However, for higher viscosity formulations, these lower applied forces will notably increase the drug delivery duration, which may be equally undesirable for the patient, physician, or clinician.

Thus, the disclosed embodiments illustrate several property alterations to the glass comprising the glass syringe, which can deliver highly viscous medicaments with reduced risk of glass breakage or fracture while maintaining the required forces necessary to accomplish a flow rate similar to the flow rate that would be used to deliver a low viscosity medicament.

Some of the factors that lead glass syringes to fracture, may be understood by examining the following pressure drop equation:

Where DR is the pressure difference;

L is the length of needle; m is the viscosity of the medicament; Q is the volumetric flow rate; and r_n is the needle inner radius.

Solving for the volumetric flow rate, Q, the equation may be expressed as follows:

As shown, volumetric flow rate and viscosity are inversely proportional, and the volumetric flow rate Q will decrease with an increase in the viscosity of the medicament m.

Thus, to maintain the same volumetric flow rate Q for a higher viscosity medicament, an adjustment may be made to one of the other variables: DR, L, or r_n. In this equation, r_n, the needle inner radius, is proportional to the flow rate. With all other variables being held constant, to maintain a same volumetric flow rate Q, the inner radius only needs to increase approximately 19% in order to compensate for a doubled viscosity. However, a higher inner radius may result in greater perceived pain from a user perspective. L is the needle length and it too is inversely proportional to the volumetric flow rate Q. In this example, shortening the needle length from 12 mm down to 8 mm results in a 30% benefit in flow rate. Finally, DR is the pressure difference between the two ends of the needle. In this case, the pressure inside the barrel is higher than the atmospheric pressure. The pressure difference DR drives the drugs out of the barrel and is also one of the main reasons for barrel fracture. Thus, in some embodiments, it would be beneficial to increase this pressure differential without fracturing the glass barrel.

In addition, this relationship between volumetric flow rate and other variables, every material has its inherent resistance to crack growth, which is a material property, often referred to as “fracture toughness,” K_IC. For glass, the fracture toughness is well-defined and may be expressed as:

wherein MPa is megapascals and m is meters. Correspondingly, due to external loading “s” and a material's flaw distribution “a”, a quantity called stress intensity factor (“SIF”), which essentially characterizes the severity of the stress concentration under certain loading may be expressed as follows:

Where

K_I is the mode I stress intensity factor;

Y is the flaw geometry factor; s is the applied stress (external loading); and a is the largest flaw under stress.

Fracture may occur when K_I = K_IC.

Additionally, during injection, there is a driving force, F, to drive the plunger to move. The driving force actuates the plunger and subsequently drives the medicament out of the syringe. This driving force may be expressed as follows:

Where

F is the driving force applied on plunger;

Rb _is the pressure generated on the liquid; and r_b is the barrel inner radius.

Additionally, the liquid pressure P_b generates hoop stress , which is tensile in

nature and which may drive the crack to open and leads to glass fracture on the glass barrel of the syringe as shown below:

Where t_b is the glass barrel thickness. Combining the two equations above, hoop stress may be expressed as follows:

Thus, in some embodiments, the method includes ways of minimizing the hoop stress while trying to increase the liquid pressure P_b. This may be accomplished, for example, by increasing the glass barrel thickness tb, the reduced tensile stress may enable the user to drive higher pressure liquid without cracking the barrel.

Based on the foregoing, several embodiments are now presented to illustrate ways of reducing glass fracture of pharmaceutical containers for dispensing high viscosity medicaments from pre-filled syringes and injection delivery devices.

In a first embodiment, it may be possible to add pre-compressive stress

through thermal treatment of the glass pharmaceutical container serving as a drug delivery device to reduce tensile stress on the outer surface. This may include, for example, the use of tempered glass. The specific process may be similar to heating up the glass pharmaceutical container below its glass transition temperature (e.g., heating up the glass pharmaceutical container to a temperature above 968 or 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit and quickly quenching it in a cold bath of, for example, water, liquid nitrogen or other suitable substance for a period of 0.0001 to 10 minutes, to build up the thermal gradient in the glass pharmaceutical container).

In another embodiment, it may be possible to add pre-compressive stress

through chemical treatment of the glass pharmaceutical container serving as a drug delivery device to reduce tensile stress on outer surface via, for example, an ion exchange. The specific process may be similar to immersing the glass pharmaceutical container in a molten salt bath for a period of time (e.g., between 0.2 and 24 hours). The ions in the glass material and the ions in the molten salt bath may exchange due to a concentration gradient. The difference in ion radius will expand the glass network and introduce compressive stress on the glass pharmaceutical container surfaces.

In another embodiment, a surface treatment may be applied to the glass pharmaceutical container serving as a drug delivery device to reduce the glass pharmaceutical container's flaw populations. The critical flaw size can be reduced by more than 10% to 100%. The surface treatments of the glass pharmaceutical container may include but not limited to, chemical acid etching such as hydrofluoric acid etching. The smaller flaw population may lead to higher glass strength and reduce the possibility of fracture. By using one or more of the treatments and/or methods described herein, a glass pharmaceutical container may be manufactured that is capable of effectively holding and delivering a high-viscous drug or composition in a safe, controlled, and efficient manner. To illustrate these principles, two examples are provided with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a stress profile of a glass for use as a pharmaceutical container of the present invention that has been strengthened using a thermal strengthening technique. In this example, a thermal strengthening profile is mostly parabolic in shape as shown in FIG. 4. The depth of compressive stress is generally on the order of 21% of the glass thickness, and the maximum compressive stress on the glass surface can be on the order of 100 MPa or smaller, i.e., tens of MPa. One of the benefits of applying a thermal strengthening technique is that the depth of compressive stress can be relatively large or deep to protect the glass from failure. However, the surface compressive stress is generally lower than what can be achieved strengthening glass using an ion exchange technique.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a stress profile of a glass for use as a pharmaceutical container of the present invention that is strengthened using an ion exchange strengthening technique. As will be appreciated from FIG. 5, an ion exchange stress profile is mostly error-function shaped (i.e., it includes a very sharp curve at the glass surface and generally flattens in the central portion of the glass). The depth of compressive stress is generally relatively shallow (e.g., the depth may be on the order of tens of micrometers). In some examples, the depth of compression can be on the order of 100 micrometers. The maximum compressive stress on the glass surface can be higher than that of thermal treatment (e.g., on the order of hundreds of MPa or even greater than 1000 MPa). Thus, one of the benefits of ion exchange strengthening is that the compressive stress is relatively high and that the glass becomes difficult to break. However, due to the stress profile, the depth of compression is quite shallow when compared to that achieved using other techniques such as thermal strengthening, and that it cannot protect the glass from really deep flaws. Methods for manufacturing glass having a desired stress profile using ion exchange are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Publication No. 20150246846, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Thus, a glass syringe body may be manufactured having a desired stress profile by balancing between the depth of compressive stress and the maximum compressive stress. In addition, this stress profile may be combined with varying the length and/or gauge of the needles as well as any technique or combination of techniques described herein. It will be understood that combinations of these methods may be used in manufacturing a glass barrel for use in a glass pre-filled syringe. For example, the glass barrel may be manufactured with an increased barrel thickness, and the article may be subjected to a surface treatment or a chemical or thermal treatment as described above. it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. Moreover, certain components are optional, and the disclosure contemplates various configurations and combinations of the elements disclosed herein, it is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. it will be appreciated that the various dependent claims and the features set forth therein can be combined in different ways than presented in the initial claims, it will also be appreciated that the features described in connection with individual embodiments may be shared with others of the described embodiments.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1. A glass syringe comprising: a generally tubular barrel comprising a treated glass and having a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end for receiving a medicament; a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for dispensing the medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and, a plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges the medicament in the chamber through the delivery member, wherein the treated glass is glass that has been treated to render the glass resistant to breakage or fracture when delivering a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament.

2. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the delivery member is a syringe needle.

3. The glass syringe of claim 2, wherein the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 or has a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and a nominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm.

4. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the open proximal end of the pre filled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

5. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

6. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a thermal treatment to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

7. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a chemical treatment to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

8. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

9. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass in which the surface has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

10. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the treated glass comprises a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater.

11. The glass syringe of claim 10, wherein the compressive stress has a value that is less than about 1,100 MPa.

12. The glass syringe of claim 10, wherein the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa.

13. The glass syringe of claim 10, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa or about 1,100 MPa.

14. The glass syringe of claim 10, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa.

15. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the generally tubular barrel wall has a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

16. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the generally tubular barrel wall thickness to the generally tubular barrel length is between 0.01 and 0.1.

17. The glass syringe of claim 1, wherein the generally tubular barrel is capable of holding at least 1 mL of a medicament.

18. A pre-filled glass syringe comprising the glass syringe of any one of claims 1-17, further comprising a medicament therein, which has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise and/or a volume of about 2.25 mL.

19. The pre-filled glass syringe of claim 18, wherein the medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

20. An injection delivery device comprising the pre-filled syringe of any one of claims 18-19.

21. A glass pre-filled syringe comprising: a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in a glass syringe comprising a glass that has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture during delivery of the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the glass pre- filled syringe, wherein the glass syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel of the treated glass and having a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and, a plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament through the delivery member.

22. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the delivery member is a syringe needle.

23. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 22, wherein the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 or has a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and a nominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm.

24. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the open proximal end of the pre-filled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

25. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

26. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a thermal treatment to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

27. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a chemical treatment to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

28. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass in which the surface has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

29. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the treated glass comprises a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater.

30. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 29, wherein the compressive stress has a value that is less than about 1,100 MPa.

31. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 29, wherein the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa.

32. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 29, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa or about 1,100 MPa.

33. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 29, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa.

34. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the glass syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel wall having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

35. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the ratio of the generally tubular barrel wall thickness to the generally tubular barrel length is between 0.01 and 0.1.

36. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 1.0 mL of a medicament.

37. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, wherein the highly viscous medicament has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise and/or a volume of about 2.25 mL.

38. The glass pre-filled syringe of claim 37, wherein the highly viscous medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

39. An injection delivery device for delivery of a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament comprising: a pre-filled glass syringe comprising a glass syringe comprising a glass that has been treated to provide a treated glass that is resistant to breakage or fracture during delivery of the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the pre-filled syringe, wherein the glass syringe comprises (i) a generally tubular barrel of the treated glass and having a distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end;

(ii) a delivery member located at the distal end of the tubular barrel for delivering the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament from the distal end of the tubular barrel; and,

(iii) a plunger means located at or near the open proximal end of the tubular barrel in sliding fluid-tight engagement with the tubular wall of the barrel for selective engagement with an advancing member so that distally directed forces on said plunger means via the advancing member urges the highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament in the chamber through the delivery member.

40. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the delivery member is a syringe needle.

41. The injection delivery device of claim 40, wherein the needle has a gauge from 19 to 30 or has a nominal outer diameter of 1.07 to 0.31 mm and a nominal inner diameter of 0.69 to 0.16 mm.

42. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the open proximal end of the pre-filled glass syringe comprises at least two flanges extending radially outward from and perpendicular from the proximal end.

43. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been coated in a polymer to provide the glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

44. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a thermal treatment to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

45. The injection delivery device of claim 39 wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been subjected to a chemical treatment to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

46. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass in which the surface has been treated to remove surface imperfections and/or flaws to provide the treated glass resistant to breakage or fracture.

47. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the treated glass comprises a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 50 MPa or greater.

48. The injection delivery device of claim 47, wherein the compressive stress has a value that is less than about 1,100 MPa.

49. The injection delivery device of claim 47, wherein the compressive stress has a value that is about 300 MPa.

50. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been thermally treated to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 300 MPa or about 1,100 MPa.

51. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the treated glass comprises a glass that has been chemically treated by ion exchange to have a depth of compression of about 25 micrometers or greater and a value of compressive stress of about 1,100 MPa.

52. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the glass syringe comprises a generally tubular barrel wall having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

53. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the thickness of the generally tubular barrel wall is increased by a factor of 10 to 100 % over the tubular wall when compared to prior art devices.

54. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the ratio of the generally tubular barrel wall thickness to the generally tubular barrel length is between 0.01 and 0.1.

55. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the glass syringe comprises a barrel sufficient for containing at least 2.25 mL of a medicament.

56. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the glass syringe comprises a medicament therein, which has a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise and/or a volume of about 2.25 mL.

57. The injection delivery device of claim 39, wherein the medicament has a viscosity between 10 and 150 centipoise.

58. A method of manufacturing a glass syringe body for use in a pre-filled syringe suitable for delivering a highly viscous and/or large volume of medicament, comprising: forming the glass syringe body comprising a generally tubular barrel and having a closed distal end and an open proximal end, with a chamber defined by a tubular wall of the barrel extending between the distal end and the proximal end; applying at least one additional treatment to strengthen the glass syringe body, the at least one additional treatment being selected from i) adding a clear polymer or plastic to the glass syringe body, ii) applying a thermal treatment to the glass syringe body, iii) applying a chemical treatment to the glass syringe body, and iv) applying a surface treatment to the glass syringe body.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein adding a clear polymer or plastic comprises adding a clear polymer or plastic through dip molding to the glass syringe body, and allowing the clear polymer or plastic to naturally cool to apply compressive stress on at least a portion of the glass syringe barrel.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein applying a thermal treatment to the glass syringe body comprises heat strengthening the glass syringe barrel.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein applying a thermal treatment to the glass syringe body comprises heating the glass to its transition temperature and quenching the syringe barrel in a cold bath.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the cold bath comprises water or liquid nitrogen.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein applying a chemical treatment comprises immersing the glass syringe body in a molten salt bath for a predetermined period of time and allowing ions in the glass syringe body and ions in the molten salt bath to be exchanged due to a concentration gradient.

64. The method of claim 58, wherein applying a surface treatment to the glass syringe body comprises reducing flaw populations in the glass comprising the glass syringe body.

65. The method of claim 58, wherein applying a surface treatment to the glass syringe body comprises chemical acid etching of at least some portion of the glass syringe body.

66. The glass syringe of claim 1, the glass pre-filled syringe of claim 21, or the injection delivery device of claim 39, or the method of claim 58, wherein the medicament is a liquid medicament.