The new MTX PEN by medac focuses on patient needs
Methotrexate is frequently used in the treatment of certain autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Subcutaneous application offers significant advantages over oral administration. medac has chosen our buttonless autoinjector as the successor model to their previous MTX PEN, enhancing the ease of injection for patients. Comprehensive market research was conducted to understand the needs of users and identify the most relevant features for the new device.
Use of methotrexate
Methotrexate (MTX) is used for the treatment of several autoimmune conditions characterised by chronic inflammation, such as active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris, severe psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease. For these conditions, subcutaneous administration allows patients to self-inject at home after a brief training, saving them from weekly visits to the doctor's office. This method not only enhances patients' quality of life but also improves bioavailability and clinical efficacy at higher doses of MTX compared to oral administration. Additionally, subcutaneous administration has been found to be advantageous in reducing gastrointestinal side effects and improving adherence and persistence.
Advantages of autoinjectors
The self-injection of MTX using an autoinjector can significantly enhance patient satisfaction, preference, and potentially adherence. At Ypsomed, we recognised the importance for medac to offer an improved device to further increase patient satisfaction. A key focus for medac was to simplify the injection process, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with restricted hand movement. Other critical considerations included preventing accidental needle stick injuries, reducing needle phobia, and improving the perception of pain during injection. In response to these needs, medac has chosen Ypsomed’s YpsoMate 1.0, featuring a simplified 2-step injection technology to meet these requirements effectively.
Market research offers insight into patients’ preference
To gain insights into customer needs regarding the new MTX PEN, medac conducted a multi-step market research study involving 570 participants from three countries1. There was a particular interest in obtaining feedback from different user groups. Therefore, both rheumatism and psoriasis patients were included in the study, as well as rheumatologists and dermatologists. Nurses specialising in rheumatism also played an important role, as they often train and educate patients and were therefore able to contribute important aspects of self-application.
Most important features of the new MTX PEN
Based on the results of the market research, the most important criteria for the new MTX PEN were defined. Key features identified included the 2-step mechanism, small injection volume, availability in different dosages, and a short injection time of five seconds maximum. 90 % of participants indicated they would likely or very likely use the new pre-filled MTX PEN. This demonstrates that the Ypsomed device fulfills all the important criteria and has the ideal product constellation to satisfy users' needs.
References
1 Müller-Ladner U, Edwards CJ, Erkens A. International Survey to Evaluate Current Options for Subcutaneous Injection of Methotrexate (MTX) and a New Button-Free MTX Autoinjector. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024;18:579-590 https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S440818
