Celebrating 20 years of the DAI autoinjector

DAI stands for Disposable Autoinjector, which pays homage to the core design philosophy of autoinjectors: simplicity, single-use convenience, and patient-centric self-administration.

DAI is a three-step, button-activated autoinjector, offering an injection experience that redefined usability in modern drug delivery devices.

The first combination product integrating the DAI autoinjector was commercialized in 2006, heralding a series of biologics and biosimilars delivered through the device platform in subsequent years. 

SHL Medical’s DAI autoinjector technology was awarded the Taiwan Excellence Award in 2006, recognizing its innovative design in drug delivery technology. 

Within its first year (2005–2006), the DAI autoinjector saw two commercial introductions, including a second launch for a leading biologic therapy for chronic inflammatory conditions. 

Oncology was the first therapy area supported by the DAI autoinjector, notably through a combination product developed for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia. 

The DAI autoinjector has also supported the launch of combination products in the cardiovascular field, particularly in the management of dyslipidemia. 

Reflecting strong market presence, SHL Medical’s DAI autoinjectors are manufactured across its sites in Taiwan and the United States, with plans underway to expand production in Europe.

DAI was the first solution in SHL Medical’s portfolio to file for intellectual property protection in 2001, establishing an early foundation for its innovation pipeline. 

DAI received its official patent grant in 2006, marking a key milestone in its development. 

2026 marks 20 years since the first commercialization of DAI, a journey shaped by longstanding partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies to develop combination products across various therapy areas. 

The first DAI project was developed for a US-based multinational biopharmaceutical company, establishing the foundation for SHL Medical’s global pharma partnerships. 

By supporting multiple autoinjector portfolio programs across SHL Medical’s pharmaceutical partners, DAI helped establish the foundation of its vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities. 

Having shipped more than 880 million units to global pharmaceutical partners, the DAI autoinjector has established a proven track record of large-scale commercial success.

DAI is designed for compatibility with 1.0 mL pre-filled syringes and has established a proven track record across a broad range of drug and biologic products. 

A variant of the DAI autoinjector is enabled by SHL Medical's PushClick technology, removing the need for button activation while enabling a simplified two-step operation.

The DAI autoinjector technology accounts for nearly one-third of global addressable autoinjector sales (Source: SHL Medical market data analysis), highlighting its strong market footprint.

Combination products indicated for musculoskeletal and central nervous system (CNS) diseases represent the dominant therapeutic applications supported by the DAI platform. 

Since its development, the DAI autoinjector has supported around 20 combination product launches for migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, and various other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. 

The most recent combination product leveraging the DAI technology was launched in 2023, for a biosimilar indicated for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.