A Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Study Assessing Adherence to Interferon Beta-1b Therapy and Patient Satisfaction Using the BETACONNECT Auto-Injector

• Published in: Neurology and therapy Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 373 - 384
• Main Authors: Farej, Ryan, Rametta, Mark, La Rose, Anneliese, Quillen, Apryl, McLeod, Kim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cheshire Springer Healthcare 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurology; Original Research; Adherence; Persistence; Multiple sclerosis; Electronic auto-injector; Satisfaction; Real-world treatment
• ISSN: 2193-8253; 2193-6536
• DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00323-1

Introduction It is important to achieve good persistence and adherence to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to achieve the best outcomes in chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The BETACONNECT device is an electronic auto-injector for the DMT interferon beta-1b (Betaseron), designed to improve patients’ injection experience and to monitor adherence. This observational study aimed to assess patient adherence to and persistence with interferon beta-1b therapy as well as patient-reported satisfaction in a US population. Methods A prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted in 146 adult patients with relapsing–remitting MS or clinically isolated syndrome, newly prescribed or currently established on interferon beta-1b therapy and naïve to the BETACONNECT device, and followed up during a 6-month observation period. Results Among the 91 patients who completed the study, the overall mean adherence rate was 82.5%, with 65.9% of patients adherent for at least 80% for the duration of the 6-month period. At 6 months, 98.9% of patients had less than a 60-day gap in therapy. Of the 115 patients who provided satisfaction data, 90.5% of patients were either very satisfied or satisfied with the BETACONNECT device. Conclusion This study shows that the BETACONNECT device was associated with high adherence to interferon beta-1b therapy in patients with MS. Patients also reported high degrees of satisfaction with the device. Therefore, this may be a viable delivery option to help with adherence and persistence, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes.