The trend: Amneal Pharmaceuticals' FDA approval for an at-home auto injector migraine treatment is the latest in a growing number of prescription drug injectables for consumer use at home or on the go. Amneal’s medication Brekiya treats acute onset of migraine as an alternative for patients who don’t respond well to oral treatments.
Driving the trend: GLP-1 injectable drugs for weight loss and type 2 diabetes are boosting the use of at-home injectable medications.
- An estimated 9% of Americans are using GLP-1 injectables and another 6% plan to start, per KPMG, including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound.
- Only Novo’s Rybelsus GLP-1 for type 2 diabetes is currently available as a pill.
Self-injection devices are also growing for other chronic disease treatments.
- Argenx’s Vyvgart for generalized myasthenia gravis was FDA approved as a self-injection option this year.
- And GSK’s Benlysta lupus treatment added an autoinjector option last year.
Yes, but: It’s not only injectables that are moving from doctors’ offices into homes.
AstraZeneca nabbed the first approval for an at-home flu vaccine, which will be ready for the 2025-2026 season. The FluMist nasal spray will be available for direct-to-consumer order and delivery at AstraZeneca’s FluMist Home website.
Why it matters: Medication adherence can improve with increased convenience and accessible options for patients. Self-injections and at-home nasal spray options, with education and support, can eliminate travel barriers and the stress of doctor office visits.
The takeaway: As adoption rises, so will consumer acceptance. For people hesitant about at-home treatments, pharma companies and marketers should make sure they’re providing sufficient education around safety and instructions on how to administer and store, while being available to answer patient questions.
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