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

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: a pre-filled syringe; the AutoClicks® autoinjector pen; and 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 new 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 and had high levels of patient satisfaction. Patients with RA and their caregivers could safely and effectively perform the critical tasks necessary to administer an injection with the ava® e-device; as this device is a unique new device with no marketed available comparator in rheumatology, usability/preference studies have not yet been conducted.