# 144 - Auto-Injectors, Pen Injectors, Challenges in Product Development, Sponsors and CDMO's with David DeSalvo

- Show: [Let's Combinate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate)
- Published: 2024-07-10
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letscombinate/episodes/144---Auto-Injectors--Pen-Injectors--Challenges-in-Product-Development--Sponsors-and-CDMOs-with-David-DeSalvo-e2lkk5e

## Summary

David DeSalvo, Vice-President of Combination Product Development at Kindeva Drug Delivery, details his career trajectory from BD to SHL, Emergent BioSolutions, and finally Kindeva. He distinguishes between pen injectors, auto-injectors, and wearable devices, emphasizing that while connectivity is inevitable, it often adds unnecessary complexity and use errors if not carefully managed. DeSalvo discusses the challenges of transitioning between sponsor and CDMO perspectives, noting that successful partnerships require transparency rather than assuming the other side has the better view. He highlights the importance of balancing innovation with commercial viability, citing early experiences at BD where advanced technologies failed to reach the market due to cost and lack of payer demand.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=0) Introduction: David DeSalvo and Kindeva Drug Delivery
- [2:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=133) Defining Injection Systems: Pen, Auto, and Wearable Injectors
- [4:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=262) Early Career at BD: Reusable Pen Injectors and Market Disconnect
- [10:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=651) Transition to SHL: Prototyping, Quality Systems, and Taiwan Manufacturing
- [17:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=1068) Starting a New Venture: Gas-Driven Auto-Injectors and Licensing
- [24:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=1461) Experience at Emergent BioSolutions: Sponsor Perspective and Drug-Device Integration
- [29:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-07-10-144-auto-injectors-pen-injectors-challenges-in-product-development-sponsors-and#t=1780) Current Role at Kindeva: CDMO Services and Development Strategy

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- BD (company)
- Eli Lilly (company)
- SHL (company)
- Emergent BioSolutions (company)
- Narcan (product)
- Radical Evolution (other)

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- [#461: Why Manufacturing is Part of Product Development with Mike Dolphin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-06-22-461-why-manufacturing-is-part-of-product-development-with-mike-dolphin) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Sara Naab On Going From Idea to Funding to One of the Bay Area's Most Innovative Life Sciences Co's](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2019-11-07-sara-naab-on-going-from-idea-to-funding-to-one-of-the-bay-areas-most-innovative) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Bringing IoT Products to Market | Soracom's Ryan Carlson & Kenta Yasukawa | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-02-28-bringing-iot-products-to-market-soracoms-ryan-carlson-kenta-yasukawa-internet-of) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [#028 - Meet the creators of FitBit for medication, with Peter Havas of PillDrill, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-05-31-028-meet-the-creators-of-fitbit-for-medication-with-peter-havas-of-pilldrill-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## Citing this page

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