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As GLP-1 demand grows, material choices matter for syringe manufacturing

Material choices matter for syringe manufacturing

 

Simon Foster, Industry Marketing Manager, Healthcare

Whether you work in healthcare or simply follow headlines about medical technology, you have likely heard about GLP-1s, a class of drugs used in obesity and diabetes care. As demand for injectable GLP-1s grows, so does the pressure on syringe manufacturers to scale production of injectable drug delivery devices. While oral options are starting to enter the market, injectable delivery remains central to many GLP-1 regimens, according to recent market analyses – putting pressure on device production, component consistency and supply planning – and bringing material selection for syringe and injection-system components into sharper focus.

For manufacturers, that means weighing several important factors when choosing materials that support efficient processing, consistent dimensions and sterilization performance:

High-volume, patient-friendly delivery: Demand is rising across injectable delivery systems, including pen injectors and syringe-based formats used in both clinical and at-home settings. This growing demand leaves device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies balancing several priorities at once: scalability, component consistency, supply availability and performance tied to sterilization and appearance, including color. At LyondellBasell (LYB), grades such as Purell PF511 and Purell PF531 are engineered to resist yellowing after gamma sterilization, helping maintain the highest standards of patient safety and aesthetics.

Syringes and injection systems design: Syringe designs vary based on intended use, manufacturing approach and material availability. As demand grows, manufacturers will continue to evaluate the appropriate materials based on factors such as stiffness, dimensional stability, processability and supply continuity. LYB experts can help customers select the ideal materials for each type of device. control are critical for syringe components, while Purell PF511 may be a better fit for syringe and injection system designs that require a lower-modulus material with broader sterilization flexibility, including radiation, autoclave and ethylene oxide.

Quality and traceability requirements: Healthcare manufacturers must manage validation, compliance and continuity requirements in highly regulated healthcare applications. To help customers address those requirements, quality and consistency remain a central focus through stringent quality and traceability systems across the LYB healthcare portfolio. The Purell service concept supports validation, compliance and continuity needs through dedicated manufacturing and cleaning procedures as well as long-term documentation retention.

Supply chain resilience: Growing demand for GLP-1 therapies can place added pressure on drug delivery system manufacturers to plan for material availability, change management and continuity of supply. These considerations are especially important for healthcare applications that require qualified materials, consistent performance and long-term production planning.  , our global footprint allows LYB to make many grades available throughout the world. Customers who sign a Purell quality agreement also benefit from a two-year notification of change (NOC), which supports change management, product stewardship and supply planning.

As GLP-1 therapies continue to reshape demand for drug delivery systems, the materials behind those devices will matter more than ever. Manufacturers will need to balance scalability, sterilization requirements, dimensional control and supply continuity – all while moving quickly in a fast-changing market. As demand evolves, LYB will continue to bring together a premium portfolio of polymer options, technical expertise and application support to help customers navigate material decisions for high-performance healthcare applications.

References

The following sources provide additional context on market trends, drug delivery formats and material considerations discussed in this article.

  1. P. Morgan Global Research. How demand for and supply of weight loss drugs is playing out in 2026. Feb. 27, 2026.
  2. Grand View Research. GLP-1 Agonists Weight Loss Drugs Market Size Report, 2030.
  3. Towards Healthcare. GLP-1 Drugs Market Sizing and Forecast. April 2026.
  4. Research and Markets. Prefilled Syringes Market Analysis, 2026–2031.
  5. Mordor Intelligence. Prefilled Syringes Market – Industry Trends and Forecast.
  6. Prefilled Syringes Market Report, 2026–2031.
  7. Global Market Insights. Injectable Drug Delivery Market Report, 2032.
  8. ASME Journal of Medical Devices. The Effect of Different Sterilization Methods on Polypropylene Syringes.
  9. Application Notes for Sterilization of Polypropylene-Based Medical Devices.
  10. Wiley (Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics). Impact of Gamma Irradiation on Polypropylene.
  11. Gamma Compatible Materials Reference Guide.

Note: Market conditions, regulatory developments and customer needs may change over time. Any forward-looking observations in this article are based on information available at the time of writing and should not be interpreted as guarantees of future outcomes

Purell is a trademark of LYB.  Before using a product sold by LYB, users should make their own independent determination that the product is suitable for the intended use and can be used safely and legally. LYB MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) OTHER THAN AS AGREED TO BY LYB IN THE PRODUCT SALE CONTRACT.

LYB prohibits or restricts the use of its products in certain applications.  For further information on restrictions or prohibitions of use, please contact a LYB representative. Users should review the applicable Safety Data Sheet before handling the product.