Drug delivery device with biodegradable plastic components

A user operated pen-type injector for dispensing a user settable amount of a medicinal product, comprising:

• a cartridge holder configured to receive and hold a product-containing cartridge,
• the cartridge mountable in the cartridge holder and comprising a piston slidably arranged therein,
• at least one housing component operably coupled to the cartridge holder,
• a drive mechanism component operably engageable with the piston of the cartridge for dispensing a user settable dose of the medicinal product,
• wherein at least one of the cartridge holder, the cartridge, the at least one housing component, and the drive mechanism at least partially comprises a plastic material comprising a substantially non-biodegradable polymer as a carrier material and at least one additive, the at least one additive adapted to induce or to trigger a degradation process of the carrier material,
• wherein the at least one additive comprises at least one kind of metal ions and a catalyst for splitting of molecular chains of the substantially non-biodegradable polymer in response to an exposure to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, heat, moisture, and a microbial environment,
• wherein the at least one additive renders at least one of the cartridge holder, the cartridge, the at least one housing component, and the drive mechanism biodegradable thereby forming an at least one biodegradable component, and
• wherein the degradation process does not start until the at least one biodegradable component is exposed to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, heat, moisture, and the microbial environment.