The Future For Home Drug Delivery Systems

PMPS sat down with Shahar Nordia, at Eitan Medical, to discover the challenges and benefits of medical devices for home use, and the direction of travel for this increasingly lucrative market

PMPS: What benefits can self-administration devices and other ‘at home’ drug delivery systems have for pediatric patients and caregivers?

Shahar Nordia: Home care provides many advantages for patients of any age, as has been proven by the major shift of care being increasingly delivered at home across many indications. For pediatric patients, travelling to a hospital or infusion clinic can add a layer of apprehension or fear to an already intimidating situation, making homecare an ideal option.

Self-administration devices, including wearable drug delivery devices that have been designed to be ultra-easy to use, mean that both children and their caregivers can feel more relaxed about treatment administration. They can manage their treatments while maintaining their day-to-day routines at home, or when out and about.

These devices are less intimidating, and allow kids to be kids, even when they have medications being administered through an on-body wearable injector. For some treatments, intravenous (IV) delivery is necessary. A home environment in these cases also offers comfort to pediatric patients. New connected infusion technologies can ensure real-time data transfer to care teams to ensure that homebased infusions are being delivered properly to patients of any age. Connectivity is an important feature of IV infusion, as patients receiving these treatments often require more comprehensive monitoring.