Certolizumab pegol administration devices: a profile of their use and usability

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Funding: The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflicts of interest: K.A. Lyseng-Williamson is a salaried employee of Adis/Springer, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflicts of interest.

Additional information about this Adis Drug Review can be found here.

Abstract

Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®), a tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) antagonist, is an effective and well-tolerated option for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis in adults. It may be administered via the following three devices, all of which have been validated for safe and effective use: an ergonomically-designed pre-filled syringe; the AutoClicks® autoinjector pen; the ‘ava®’ e-device (a reusable electromechanical injection device that uses a single dose-dispenser cartridge). In usability and preference studies in patients with RA, the ergonomically-designed pre-filled syringe was preferred over the previously available pre-filled syringe, and the AutoClicks® autoinjector was significantly preferred over the autoinjectors of other TNF antagonists with high levels of patient satisfaction. Patients with RA and their caregivers could safely and effectively perform the critical tasks necessary for to administer an injection with the ava® e-device; comparative usability/preference studies have not yet been conducted for this unique new device, as an appropriate comparator is not currently available. Access to the full article can be found here.

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