Contributions
Abstract: P1144
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - Immunomodulation/Immunosuppression
Background: Adherence to injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can be improved through the use of drug delivery devices. BETACONNECT® is a novel electronic autoinjector for the administration of interferon beta-1b that performs injections in 4 phases. It also records the time, date, speed, depth, volume and status of injections and includes injection reminders.
Objectives: The primary objective is to investigate adherence among patients using BETACONNECT®. Secondary objectives include assessments of satisfaction with the autoinjector; symptoms of depression, anxiety and fatigue; quality of life and cognition.
Methods: BETAEVAL is an observational cohort study that enrolled patients from 11 countries in Europe with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome currently undergoing treatment using BETACONNECT®. Follow-up visits are planned at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after enrollment. Injection data will be recorded electronically through the BETACONNECT®. Data on adherence (calculated by >80% compliance with prescribed interferon beta-1b dosages) will be presented with the final results after completion of the study. Interim results on patient satisfaction are presented here.
Results: Recruitment is complete (N=500, current analyses based on 443). Mean (SD) age was 44.1 (11.4) years. 64.3% were women. 96.2% were diagnosed with RRMS. Mean (median, range) EDSS at baseline was 2.2 (2, 0-6.5). 68.0% of patients were using autoinjectors prior to entry, including 20.3% using BETACONNECT®. At enrollment, satisfaction with the previous injection devices was high (mean [SD] 7.5 [2.2] out of 10). Device satisfaction was higher after 4 weeks (8.2 [2.1], nominal P< .0001). Mean (SD) intensity of injection related pain was 4.7 (2.6) out of 10 with the prior method of injection and decreased to 4.0 (2.4) with BETACONNECT® (nominal P< .0001). Prophylactic analgesics were used by 22.7% and 23.1% of patients prior to and during the study, respectively. Most participants strongly agreed that BETACONNECT® was user-friendly (initial: 92.5%, Week 4: 90.3%). They felt confident using it (75.3%, 77.0%), and preferred it over their previous method (73.9%, 74.3%).
Conclusion: Satisfaction with BETACONNECT® was higher than with previous methods in this interim analysis. Patients also reported a high perception of user-friendliness, confidence with using the device and a preference over their previous injection methods. Injection site pain was lower with BETACONNECT.
Disclosure: FP served as an advisor for Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme and TEVA and received grants for speaking activities from the same companies.
IK has received honoraria for consultancy or speaking and travel reimbursement from Bayer HealthCare, Biogen Idec, Chugai, and Novartis and grant support from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Chugai, and Diamed as well as from the MERCUR Foundation.
MMG has received compensation for her contribution to the BETAEVAL global study to the account of the Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón-Madrid, by Bayer.
SG has received compensation for her contribution to the BETAEVAL global study to the account of the Department of Neurology, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, by Bayer.
J-P Bugge is a salaried employee of Bayer Pharma AG.
Abstract: P1144
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - Immunomodulation/Immunosuppression
Background: Adherence to injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can be improved through the use of drug delivery devices. BETACONNECT® is a novel electronic autoinjector for the administration of interferon beta-1b that performs injections in 4 phases. It also records the time, date, speed, depth, volume and status of injections and includes injection reminders.
Objectives: The primary objective is to investigate adherence among patients using BETACONNECT®. Secondary objectives include assessments of satisfaction with the autoinjector; symptoms of depression, anxiety and fatigue; quality of life and cognition.
Methods: BETAEVAL is an observational cohort study that enrolled patients from 11 countries in Europe with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) or clinically isolated syndrome currently undergoing treatment using BETACONNECT®. Follow-up visits are planned at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after enrollment. Injection data will be recorded electronically through the BETACONNECT®. Data on adherence (calculated by >80% compliance with prescribed interferon beta-1b dosages) will be presented with the final results after completion of the study. Interim results on patient satisfaction are presented here.
Results: Recruitment is complete (N=500, current analyses based on 443). Mean (SD) age was 44.1 (11.4) years. 64.3% were women. 96.2% were diagnosed with RRMS. Mean (median, range) EDSS at baseline was 2.2 (2, 0-6.5). 68.0% of patients were using autoinjectors prior to entry, including 20.3% using BETACONNECT®. At enrollment, satisfaction with the previous injection devices was high (mean [SD] 7.5 [2.2] out of 10). Device satisfaction was higher after 4 weeks (8.2 [2.1], nominal P< .0001). Mean (SD) intensity of injection related pain was 4.7 (2.6) out of 10 with the prior method of injection and decreased to 4.0 (2.4) with BETACONNECT® (nominal P< .0001). Prophylactic analgesics were used by 22.7% and 23.1% of patients prior to and during the study, respectively. Most participants strongly agreed that BETACONNECT® was user-friendly (initial: 92.5%, Week 4: 90.3%). They felt confident using it (75.3%, 77.0%), and preferred it over their previous method (73.9%, 74.3%).
Conclusion: Satisfaction with BETACONNECT® was higher than with previous methods in this interim analysis. Patients also reported a high perception of user-friendliness, confidence with using the device and a preference over their previous injection methods. Injection site pain was lower with BETACONNECT.
Disclosure: FP served as an advisor for Almirall, Bayer, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme and TEVA and received grants for speaking activities from the same companies.
IK has received honoraria for consultancy or speaking and travel reimbursement from Bayer HealthCare, Biogen Idec, Chugai, and Novartis and grant support from Biogen Idec, Novartis, Chugai, and Diamed as well as from the MERCUR Foundation.
MMG has received compensation for her contribution to the BETAEVAL global study to the account of the Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón-Madrid, by Bayer.
SG has received compensation for her contribution to the BETAEVAL global study to the account of the Department of Neurology, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, by Bayer.
J-P Bugge is a salaried employee of Bayer Pharma AG.