Semaglutide single-dose pen-injector: Post hoc analysis of summative usability testing for weight management

Subcutaneous semaglutide, at a 2.4 mg once-weekly maintenance dose, is approved in the United States for weight management in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher, or with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher and at least one obesity-related co-morbidity. To investigate the usability of the semaglutide pen-injector in individuals who met these criteria, we report post hoc analysis of the summative (human factors validation) usability testing and safety analysis involving patients with type 2 diabetes (an obesity-related co-morbidity) with the same pen-injector, limited to the 26 out of 30 patients with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher (11 pen-injector-naïve, 15 pen-injector-experienced) and 15 non-pharmacist healthcare professionals (HCPs). Participants performed two simulated injections into an injection pad. No potentially serious use errors occurred. Mean subjective ease-of-use rating on a seven-point scale, where 1 = difficult and 7 = easy, was 6.9 for the second injection in all three groups. These results suggest that the semaglutide pen-injector is easy to use and not associated with serious use errors when used by pen-injector-naïve or pen-injector-experienced patients meeting the requirement for weight management with semaglutide treatment, and by non-pharmacist HCPs.

Evaluating the usability and safety of the semaglutide single-dose pen-injectors through summative (human factors) usability testing

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

A single-dose, shield-activated pen-injector for each of the three approved dose variants (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg) of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide has been developed to improve usability. This analysis presents findings from the summative usability testing process for the single-dose semaglutide pen-injectors, including the pen-injector four-pack cartons and instructions for use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 adults representing four user groups were included: patients with/without pen-injector experience, non-pharmacist healthcare professionals and pharmacists (each n = 15). Participants carried out four tasks: (i) pen-injector carton retrieval; (ii) first simulated injection; (iii) pen-injector retrieval; and (iv) second simulated injection. All participants carried out task 1, and patients and non-pharmacist healthcare professionals took part in tasks 2-4 (n = 45). The number and types of use errors, close calls and operational difficulties were evaluated, and participants subjectively rated the ease of each task on a scale of 1 (difficult) to 7 (easy).

RESULTS

No potentially serious use errors and only one non-serious use error were reported. Eight participants committed use errors with no potential for harm, one participant committed an unclassified use error, one participant encountered a close call with no potential for harm and one participant experienced an operational difficulty. Mean ease-of-use ratings were 6.7 (task 1), 5.9 (task 2), 6.6 (task 3) and 6.9 (task 4).

CONCLUSIONS

All three dose variants of the semaglutide single-dose pen-injector were considered easy to use (subjective feedback scores near 7) and not associated with any serious use errors, even when participants received no training before study participation.