Originally Published PMPN December
2001
EDITORIAL
Ease of Use Is Key to Compliance
Last year my father was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis. Despite
his loss of balance and dexterity, he hasn't given in to the disease. Instead,
he has chosen to manage his condition himself by participating in support groups,
trying new treatments, and injecting himself with his prescribed medication.
For patients like my father with chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis,
successful at-home self-treatment depends upon a medication regimen that is
easy to administer. Arney Rosenblat, public affairs director for the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society, agrees. "The easier a product is to use, the
more likely the patient is to use it," she explains. "It will greatly
improve therapy compliance."
Drug packaging can often ease product use—or complicate it. Conventional
reconstitution of lyophilized drugs, which are commonly prescribed for multiple
sclerosis, typically involves the use of separate syringes and vials. Bill O'Dell,
vice president of global marketing for West Pharmaceutical Services (Lionville, PA), says conventional
reconstitution "is cumbersome, demands precision, and requires a high level
of digital dexterity to perform the multiple steps involved." When faced
with difficulty, patients who have trouble holding items still or securely often
don't adhere to drug regimens. Multiple sclerosis patients, for instance, may
skip treatment on the days they have flare-ups because they cannot grip items
with both hands.
To help such patients, West Pharmaceutical has set out to make self-injection
easier. Its solution is the Clip'n'Ject, a reconstitution system for lyophilized
drugs. Consisting of a molded plastic connector that links a prefilled diluent
syringe to a standard drug vial, the system "reduces the complexity of
reconstitution because it is packaged as a complete set that requires fewer
steps than conventional products," says O'Dell. The needle itself is enclosed
in the plastic connector during reconstitution, minimizing the risk of a needle
injury and preventing exposure to unintended drug spray-back, he adds.
To encourage drug manufacturers to adopt the technology, West Pharmaceutical
designed the system so that it can be used with standard vials already being
used on marketed products. Drug manufacturers that choose to use the system
can have West Pharmaceutical package the Clip'n'Ject with their standard drug
vials in a single thermoformed tray with a Tyvek lid to give patients a complete
administration set in one package.
Thankfully, some drug manufacturers are already beginning to introduce packages
that ease drug administration. For instance, biopharmaceutical maker Biogen
kept patient needs in mind when it designed the packaging for its self-injection
product for multiple sclerosis patients. Highlighted in this month's "Case
History" on page 71, the package features a Tyvek lid that overhangs it
by about 40 mm and has two punched holes through which patients can insert their
fingers to peel the lid off easily. Biogen's Todd Smith says that patients welcome
the easy-to-use design.
Rosenblat says that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is pleased to see
an increased awareness among manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceutical
products that their therapies not only need to be effective but also user friendly.
"The disability market is a $40 billion+ market, and manufacturers are
starting to realize this, which is to everyone's benefit," she says.
We talk about compliance packaging often in this industry, usually to refer
to packages that help consumers keep track of their medication regimens and
deliver the right doses. But the key to drug regimen compliance isn't just getting
patients to remember to take their prescribed doses. It also involves giving
patients easy-to-use packaging that can help them administer a particular regimen.
My father and the millions of other patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis
and other debilitating chronic conditions will thank you for helping them adhere
to regimens necessary for continuing independent lives.
Daphne Allen, Editor
Copyright ©2001 Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News
