With autoimmune diseases cumulatively affecting 5 to 10% of the industrial world population, the global market for autoimmune therapeutics is set to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% between 2024 and 2031 and is anticipated to reach $200 billion by 2031.
Autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, and Crohn’s disease, involve the immune system mistakenly attacking the body’s own tissues. Treatments for these conditions typically aim to regulate immune responses, reduce inflammation, and alleviate symptoms.
Autoinjectors have emerged as a valuable tool for administering medication to help in the management of these chronic illnesses, providing a practical solution that enhances the effectiveness of treatments. This article explores the role of autoinjectors in treating autoimmune diseases, their benefits and impact on patient care and outcomes, together with best practice guidance on developing an autoinjector drug device combination product for autoimmune diseases.
Understanding Autoimmune Diseases and Treatment Needs
Autoimmune diseases are a family of more than 80 chronic and often disabling disorders in which the immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks the body’s own cells, mistaking them as foreign invaders. This immune dysfunction leads to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and a wide range of symptoms depending on the affected organs or systems.
For instance:
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Affects joints, causing pain, swelling, and deformities.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Damages nerve cells and the central nervous system, impairing movement and cognition.
• Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus):Causes widespread inflammation affecting the skin, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
• Crohn’s Disease: Involves chronic inflammation in the digestive tract.
Management of these diseases often includes immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids, biologics, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These medications require precise, consistent dosing to be effective and avoid adverse effects, which presents challenges, especially for patients requiring frequent injections and who often have dexterity challenges.
What are Autoinjectors?
Autoinjectors are medical devices designed to simplify the administration of injectable therapies. They are typically prefilled, single-use syringes with a spring-loaded mechanism that delivers a set single dose of medication. Autoinjectors are designed for ease of use, with as few as two steps, making them accessible for self-administration without the need for healthcare provider assistance. The device is activated by pressing it against the skin, which triggers the needle to penetrate and deliver the medication.
Common features of autoinjectors include:
• Prefilled and premeasured dosages: autoinjectors are designed to administer precise doses of drug products, ensuring accurate and consistent delivery. By automating the injection process, autoinjectors minimise the risk of human error, providing a level of accuracy that is paramount in the treatment of complex conditions such as autoimmune and chronic diseases.
• Automatic needle retraction: The automated injection process reduces the likelihood of accidental needle stick injuries, enhancing safety for both patients and healthcare providers.
• Compact, portable and user-friendly design: These devices empower patients to self-administer medications in the comfort of their homes or on-the-go for those with active lifestyles, eliminating the need for frequent hospital visits. The user-friendly design of autoinjectors, often featuring intuitive interfaces and ergonomic grips, enhances patient compliance and reduces anxiety associated with traditional injection methods. This change towards at-home administration not only improves patients’ quality of life but also reduces the burden on healthcare infrastructure.
Due to their user-friendly design, autoinjectors are widely used for conditions like severe allergies (epinephrine for anaphylaxis) and hormone therapy (insulin for diabetes). However, their utility has expanded significantly over recent years to treat autoimmune diseases, driven by advancements in both biologic treatments and patient-centred drug delivery technologies.
