A new electronic device for subcutaneous injection of IFN-β-1a

Abstract

Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) can provide important benefits for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but nonadherence to treatment is associated with an increased risk of relapse. All first-line DMDs used in MS require regular injection, but injection-related problems are common barriers to treatment adherence. Autoinjectors that allow automatic injection at the press of a button have increased the ease and convenience of injection, compared with manual injection. A new electronic autoinjector has recently been introduced for the administration of subcutaneous IFN-β-1a. This device is the first electronic autoinjector for use with any MS therapy, and includes several innovative features that may be advantageous to patients. One of these features is an accurate electronic dosing log, which can be viewed by the patient and the healthcare provider. This article discusses this new electronic device in the context of other autoinjectors currently used to self-inject first-line DMDs in MS.

Patient assessment of an electronic device for subcutaneous self-injection of interferon ß-1a for multiple sclerosis: an observational study in the UK and Ireland

“…The electronic auto-injection device was developed to address some of the known factors that affect patient adherence to injectable DMDs,25 as well as the concerns and needs of patients with MS. Needle phobia, self-injection psychology, forgetting to inject, injection-related pain, skin-site reactions, and travel (eg, the need to take cumbersome equipment) all impact on adherence to self-medication 10,12. This study showed that the majority of patients liked the auto-injection device (91.5%) and found it ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to use (96.6%), both of which may lead to increased treatment adherence.…”

Long-Term Adherence to IFN Beta-1a Treatment when Using RebiSmart® Device in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

“…Primary reasons described for non-adherence include adverse reactions (AEs), ‘flu-like symptoms’, injection anxiety, perceived lack of efficacy, or forgetfulness [ 15 – 19 ]. Among the strategies aimed at improving the adherence to sc IFN β-1a treatments is the use of autoinjection devices, such as RebiSmart ® (Merck Serono SA—Geneva, Switzerland), which also increase significantly the satisfaction of patients [ 20 , 21 ]. In BRIDGE (RebiSmart ® to self-inject Rebif ® serum-free formulation in a multidose cartridge), a 12-week study involving 119 patients with RRMS, the adherence rate was 88.2% [ 22 ].…”

Patient expectations and experiences of multiple sclerosis interferon ß-1a treatment: a longitudinal, observational study in routine UK clinical practice

“…Additional factors affecting persistence to therapy may have been discerned with a drug new to the market, for which the patient materials and homecare delivery systems may not have been as developed and well established as studied here. Although not assessed in this study, advances in the injection technique for the administration of sc IFN β-1a18 and the formulation of sc IFN β-1a19 have changed since the start of the study, which may have affected preference and acceptability of, and persistence to, treatment. Perceived lack of efficacy has been associated with IFN-β treatment discontinuation,20–22 which was not directly assessed in this study.…”