Osaka-headquartered Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Bristol-Myers Squibb K K have launched Orencia Subcutaneous Injection 125 mg Auto-injector 1 mL (abatacept: genetically recombinant) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The manufacturing and marketing approval of Orencia Subcutaneous Injection 125 mg Auto-injector 1 mL (Orencia-AI) was obtained on February 25, 2016. Ono says that this launch represents the new formulation of subcutaneous auto-injector available, in addition to the existing formulation of intravenous infusion and subcutaneous injection syringe. Orencia-AI is prefilled with a single dose in the device.

Explaining further, Ono says by simply pressing the injection button which facilitates one-touch operation, the needle can be automatically inserted under the skin without looking at the injection to deliver the drug. In addition, Orencia-AI is designed to be an easy-to-handle device for patients in function and shape with a non-slip surface to grip easily in size and a large viewing window to confirm whether the drug has been fully injected.

As rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the tension, pain and deformity of the joints, many patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a difficulty in injecting by themselves due to such symptoms and complications.

Orencia-AI is expected to help such patients having a trouble in self-injection due to joint deformity to reduce their burden in self-injection. In addition, Orencia-AI offers merits to physicians in providing a wider range of treatment options depending on patients' conditions, as well as to healthcare professionals in charge of instruction on self-injection to patients, in further facilitating such instruction to them.