Drugs, Ucb obtains Ce mark for electronic injection device

by time news

Ucb, a global biopharmaceutical company, has announced that the first-of-its-kind ava Connect * electronic injection device has been awarded the Ce mark indicating compliance with health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the Space European economic. Ava Connect and the disposable dosing cartridge are used for self-injection of certolizumab pegol, an anti-TNF therapy used to treat adults with rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. It is the first reusable device of its kind in Europe, available for use with biological treatment in rheumatology and dermatology.


To accompany the device and further support patients, UCB has also developed CimplyMe *, an accompanying mobile application. Both contribute to UCB’s mission to transform the way patient support is delivered and to accelerate as much as possible the achievement of better outcomes for people living with severe illness, in line with its digital business transformation.

“At Ucb – said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President, Immunology Solutions and Head of Us, Ucb – we are increasing our ability to deliver differentiating value to the patient with advanced technology solutions. With the recent acceleration of telemedicine, ava Connect and CimplyMe they can help improve the patient experience and help make dialogue with healthcare professionals easier, even outside of face-to-face visits, by providing symptom monitoring reports and treatment adherence. With these technological innovations, Ucb aims to be a pioneer in digital medicine for people suffering from rheumatological and dermatological diseases “.

The ava Connect e-device was developed with patients to address the challenges of injection and treatment management that can lead to low persistence. Up to 68% of patients who self-inject the drug are non-compliant after one year of treatment, resulting in increased utilization of healthcare resources (e.g., hospitalizations, hospital visits, treatment costs, etc.) due to suboptimal treatment results. This observation is based on 19 studies reporting compliance data on patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease treated with infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab and etanercept.

The device has a hidden needle and a non-slip handle to assist patients with hand problems. The large start / pause button and the choice of injection speed give patients control of their injections. The information screen allows patients to access step-by-step instructions, confirm injection completion and provide notifications of the injection date. Studies have shown that patients find the electronic device easy to use and are satisfied with their self-injection experience.

The ava Connect e-device also records the dates of injections, allowing you to objectively monitor patient adherence, which can be shared with doctors. Skin sensors automatically stop an injection if skin contact is lost and the needle retracts into the device. After repositioning, the injection can continue, preventing wasted medication and helping to ensure that the patient receives the full dose. Safety features ensure that before an injection is given the drug cartridge is automatically checked to verify drug identity, expiration status and usage status.

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