West Pharmaceutical Launches Synchrony Prefillable Syringe System to Streamline Biologics Delivery
Key Insights
West Pharmaceutical Services launched the West Synchrony Prefillable Syringe System (search) at CPHI Worldwide, offering a fully verified platform from a single supplier commercially available in January 2026.
The system addresses current industry challenges by replacing fragmented approaches with an integrated solution that includes design verification, regulatory documentation, and supply chain management for biologics (search) and vaccines (search).
The platform won the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Award for Product Launches in the Prefillable Syringe Systems category, recognizing its system-level approach to drug delivery.
West Pharmaceutical Services has launched the West Synchrony Prefillable Syringe (PFS) System at CPHI Worldwide in Frankfurt, Germany, marking what the company describes as a significant shift in drug delivery solutions. The innovative system will be commercially available in January 2026 and represents a move from component-by-component supply to a fully verified platform from a single supplier.
The launch addresses what Andy Polywacz, President of Integrated Systems at West, identifies as a critical industry challenge. "Leaders in drug development face pressures to meet milestones efficiently amid complex challenges, amongst them, selecting prefillable syringes. They currently rely on fragmented approaches—assembling component data from multiple suppliers or outsourcing piecemeal verification, which risks delays, increased costs and regulatory setbacks," Polywacz said.
Award Recognition and Industry Impact
The West Synchrony PFS system has already garnered industry recognition, winning the Product Launches award in the Prefillable Syringe Systems category in the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards. The recognition reflects the company's transition from supplying individual components to offering what it describes as a harmonized PFS system designed specifically for biologics (search) and vaccines (search).
The system integrates the syringe barrel, plunger, and needle shield or tip cap into a design-verified configuration, sourced entirely from one supplier. This approach is particularly relevant for biologics (search) and vaccines (search), which are often more viscous, more sensitive to contact materials, and more demanding in terms of container closure integrity than traditional small-molecule injectables.
System-Level Performance and Design
The West Synchrony system delivers what the company calls a single design verification and characterization package that covers the entire syringe system. Rather than requiring drug developers to create custom assemblies and demonstrate adequate performance, West provides system-level data showing how the integrated barrel, plunger, and needle shield or tip cap behave together as a complete device constituent part.
This approach proves particularly valuable for combination products and delivery via autoinjectors, where consistency in break loose and glide forces is critical to predictable device performance. The system incorporates high-performance plungers that undergo West's Envision verification process to proactively screen for defects, contamination, and particulates.
Plunger options include West NovaPure (search) and FluroTec (search) barrier film plungers, configured to deliver low and tightly controlled break loose and glide forces. The FluroTec film acts as a barrier between the drug and the elastomeric plunger surface, minimizing direct contact and helping to reduce the risk of chemical interaction, adsorption, and absorption.
Regulatory and Supply Chain Advantages
The platform addresses regulatory complexity through a unified approach. The system is filed under a single drug master file with a unified regulatory package to support non-DMF regions, consolidating documentation covering the full PFS configuration. This unified package is designed to simplify what has traditionally been a fragmented process requiring teams to assemble data sets from multiple sources.
West has structured the offering around FlexQTY and StdQTY pathways that align with clinical and commercial milestones. FlexQTY batches are intended for early development and clinical testing, offering low minimum order quantities while maintaining the same verified system attributes as larger runs. As programs progress, sponsors can transition to StdQTY volumes designed for broader clinical and commercial needs.
High-demand presentations such as 1 ml long and 2.25 ml staked needle syringes with commonly used gauges are available on a make-to-stock basis. A broader make-to-order catalogue provides additional flexibility with options including different needle gauges and lengths, flange geometries, luer lock versions, and multiple plunger constructions.
Company Background and Market Position
West Pharmaceutical Services operates as a leading provider of innovative, high-quality injectable solutions and services. The company supports customers through over 10,000 team members across 50 sites including 25 manufacturing facilities worldwide, delivering over 41 billion components and devices annually. In fiscal year 2024, West generated $2.89 billion in net sales and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WST.
The West Synchrony PFS system represents the company's response to evolving industry needs, particularly the growing complexity of biologics (search) and vaccine development. By offering what it describes as a system-level solution, West aims to help pharmaceutical companies streamline design, accelerate regulatory submission, and secure reliable supply chains for combination products.