Subcutaneous drug delivery devices—Enablers of a flexible care setting

Globally the pressure on the healthcare system is increasing and especially for biotherapeutics, the high burden for patients and healthcare professionals is in part related to complex drug administration procedures inherent to parenteral dosing that is typically carried out in the hospital, office, or infusion center. The convenience advantage of subcutaneous dosing alternatives to time-consuming and invasive intravenous infusions has already been demonstrated. With subcutaneous fixed dosing regimens and short injection durations, drug administration-related costs and resources can be reduced. In this context, subcutaneous autoinjector or pen devices and wearable patch devices have been shown to further facilitate drug administration to an extent that enables a flexible care setting in which patients can choose the place of drug administration, including home- and self-administration. Such devices have therefore become an integral part of a molecule's lifecycle management. The availability of several dosing regimens and injection devices is considered to not only improve access to medicines but also to improve patient experience and satisfaction with the treatment. The application of connected device features such as dosing reminders, adherence trackers, and educational tools is expected a useful way to further engage eligible patients into their disease management, to ensure adherence and compliance with the dosing regimen in an uncontrolled setting, and to enable a remote dialog between patients, caregivers, and the treating physician.