New technology could ease delivery of rheumatoid arthritis drugs

The launch of a new injection device could reduce the fear and pain of injecting modern medicines in the home.

The device incorporates warming technology that quickly and reliably heats drugs to body temperature. And its cutting-edge design is said to make it easy to use.

Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other conditions affecting millions of people are increasingly treated by self-injection of biologic drugs.

Injecting many of these drugs with a traditional syringe can be slow and painful because of their thick, sticky consistency. And the drugs often need to be refrigerated before use – so it takes time to safely warm them to room temperature before injection.

The Aira reusable auto-injector is designed to quickly warm medicine to body temperature, making it easier and quicker to deliver the dose. It has a large, easy-grip handle, and simple push-button mechanism for automatically priming the device and delivering the injection.

“This technology will reduce the preparation and delivery time of injections, as well as the associated pain, by heating the medicines prior to use – offering the extra confidence and reassurance that is needed to ensure greater patient compliance for vital treatments,” explains Iain Simpson from the development team at Cambridge Consultants.