Acthar Gel SelfJect convenient, easy to use: Patient survey
Most satisfied with treatment, plan to continue using it, Mallinckrodt says
Most people with inflammatory conditions reported overall satisfaction, convenience, and confidence when self-administering Acthar Gel (repository corticotropin injection) through a single-dose, prefilled injector called SelfJect.
That’s according to a survey-based study sponsored by the therapy’s developer, Mallinckrodt. The study involved 54 patients living in the U.S., eight of whom had symptomatic sarcoidosis.
The company designed SelfJect to make self-administered injections easier for patients, particularly those who have issues with vision or dexterity.
“Real-world perceptions are critical to capturing patient satisfaction and treatment experience with SelfJect beyond clinical trials, especially for those living with conditions that can often be challenging to manage,” George Wan, PhD, vice president of evidence generation and data sciences at Mallinckrodt, said in a company press release. “Findings from this … patient survey enhance our understanding on the use of Acthar Gel via SelfJect in appropriate patients.”
The study, “Real-World Insights on Satisfaction and Experience with Acthar Gel via SelfJect (RISE™): A Cross-Sectional Patient Survey,” was published in Advances in Therapy.
Making injection easier
Sarcoidosis symptoms vary depending on the affected organs or tissues, which may include the lungs, skin, and eyes.
Acthar Gel contains a mixture of hormones and proteins released from the brain’s pituitary gland that are thought to have anti-inflammatory effects via multiple mechanisms. It’s approved in the U.S. for certain people with a range of chronic and acute inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including symptomatic sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Adults can self-administer the treatment with a syringe and vial as an under-the-skin (subcutaneous) or into-the-muscle injection. However, this may require some skill and motor control.
“Patients, particularly those with chronic or acute inflammatory and autoimmune conditions who may experience dexterity and/or visual challenges, need access to delivery devices they feel are easy and convenient to use,” said Steven Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation.
The prefilled injector in SelfJect has a design that may be easier for people with grip issues to hold. It also requires fewer preparation steps, administering a 40- or 80-unit dose with a press of the handle. Syringe-and-vial injections may be appropriate for people on other doses.
A team led by researchers at Mallinckrodt designed a survey for SelfJect users to assess their experiences in a real-world setting.
Each of the 54 adults who completed the online questionnaire had used SelfJect at least six times. Participants’ mean age was 55.4 at the time of the survey, and 76% were women. Among those with sarcoidosis, an average of 14.5 years had passed since their diagnosis.
More than a third of all participants each reported dexterity or visual problems, and previous use of the Acthar Gel multi-dose vial.
Survey results showed that 91% of all participants said they were satisfied (39%) or very satisfied (52%) with the therapy. Most participants also reported to feel very or extremely confident administering the therapy with SelfJect (89%) and that the device was convenient or very convenient (91%).
About three-quarters (76%) reported the device was very easy or extremely easy to use for self-injection. On average, participants took 3.4 minutes to administer the injection.
“The perceived convenience and ease of use could be of significant benefit, especially for patients new to self-injection or those concerned about their injection technique,” the researchers wrote.
Asked if they would continue using SelfJect for the full prescribed period, 87% of participants said they were likely or very likely to do so. The same percentage reported they were likely or very likely to continue with the prescribed timing, dosage, and frequency.
“Survey participants reported a favorable experience with Acthar Gel via SelfJect, with a high level of satisfaction, confidence, convenience, and ease of use,” the team wrote.
Future studies with a longer follow-up could measure these factors more objectively, the researchers noted. These could also provide data about long-term satisfaction that could not be gleaned from the survey, which provided one snapshot of time.
Still, the findings may indicate that SelfJect addresses common challenges with self-injection, and “may be helpful for healthcare providers in decision-making,” the researchers concluded.
About the Author
