Pro-Ject launched at the PDA Europe conference in Basel to muscle into a global market for injectable drugs said to be worth $240bn, 28% of the overall market worldwide.

Spring-loaded auto-injectors holding pre-filled syringes are meant for self-injection in a non-medical environment such as home.

Pro-Ject disposable auto-injector is designed around a standard glass pre-filled syringe. Features include two handling operations, control window and multiple safety elements.

The market is a small niche of the injectable drug market worth $130m but with an annual growth rate of 20% and an R&D pipeline of thousands of projects.

"We have spent two years preparing for this launch," said Aptar Pharma Prescription Division vice-president for marketing Pierre Carlotti. "Pro-Ject is the first of our range of innovative injectors."