Impact of Betaconnect Auto-Injector on Betaseron Therapy Adherence and Patient Satisfaction

Background: The BETACONNECT device is an electronic auto-injector designed to improve adherence with Betaseron (interferon beta-1b), a disease modifying therapy utilized in relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). BETACONNECT objectively records Betaseron injection date, time, dose, and status each time a patient performs an injection

Objectives: To assess adherence to Betaseron therapy and satisfaction with the device in patients who are using BETACONNECT.

Methods: This study is a prospective, observational, multicenter, single-arm trial. Patients aged 18 or older diagnosed with RRMS or CIS were recruited from 19 neurology centers across the US. Patients newly prescribed or currently established on Betaseron therapy and naïve to the BETACONNECT device were enrolled and followed for a 6-month observation period. The primary endpoint was patient adherence to Betaseron using BETACONNECT, measured as the proportion of actual versus expected number of injections completed during each patient’s study duration. The secondary endpoint was patient-reported satisfaction with BETACONNECT, measured by an online patient satisfaction questionnaire.

Results: A total of 146 patients were enrolled into this study. Of these, 91 patients (62.3%) completed the study and provided adherence data via BETACONNECT. Eighty patients (88%) were established on Betaseron therapy while 11 patients (12%) were Betaseron naïve. The overall mean adherence rate was 82.5% (SD: 20.4%) with 60 (65.9%) patients reaching at least 80% adherence. The mean adherence rate for established and naïve patients was 80.6% (SD: 21.0%) and 96.9% (SD: 4.0%), respectively. The mean adherence rate for patients who did not complete the study was similar at 86.5% (SD: 13.7%). A total of 115 patients (98 established, 17 naïve) completed the satisfaction survey with 73 (63.5% [63.3% established, 64.7% naïve]) reporting being very satisfied with their BETACONNECT device, 31 (27.0% [27.6% established, 23.5% naïve]) being satisfied, 9 (7.8% [8.2% established, 5.9% naïve) being neither satisfied or dissatisfied, and 2 (1.7% [1.0% established, 5.9% naïve]) being very dissatisfied.

Conclusions: BETACONNECT is designed to improve adherence of Betaseron therapy in patients with RRMS or CIS. Results of this study suggest patients demonstrate high levels of adherence and patient satisfaction when using the BETACONNECT device.

Sponsorship: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.