The device, called SurePal, aims to simplify the administration of the human growth hormone (hGH) by using cartridges that require no reconstitution or priming, and a sliding injection button that requires minimum force to operate. It also includes safety features including non-interchangeable dose-specific cartridges, a dose memory function that remembers the patient’s daily dose and a needle hider to reduce anxiety for patients afraid of needles.

In a usability study conducted by Sandoz in 106 patients in Germany and the US, 92% of respondents found an injection with SurePal very easy or easy to accomplish.

According to Mr Peter Laing, Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, ‘patients treated with growth hormone therapy require an injection of hGH on a daily basis which requires significant commitment from the individual, parent or primary caregiver. Therefore, ease of use and simplicity of the growth hormone device combined with features of added patient safety are essential to ensure good treatment outcomes’.

The new device, being a Sandoz innovation, will only be available for use with the company’s biosimilar somatropin product, Omnitrope. Sandoz also intends to launch the product globally.

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