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The packaging of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug Cimzia has won the coveted GOOD DESIGN award of the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The UCB/OXO prefilled syringe for certolizumab pegol joins a roll call of some of the world’s best-known brands from 36 different nations, including Microsoft, Panasonic and Apple, to have won the prestigious award for their innovations in design.
UCB and OXO set out to help make life easier for patients with RA, not only through the treatment, but also its delivery mechanism.
Patients with RA often have limited dexterity which means that self-administration of much-needed treatments can be difficult.
UCB and OXO spent time discussing design features with RA patients to establish their needs as part of the design process.
Taking as many users’ needs into account as possible is at the very heart of Universal Design, a philosophy that drives OXO’s product development process.
The design incorporates several key benefits for the patient, including a non-slip finger grip, a finger loop on the needle shield and a larger than usual plunger, all of which aim to make it more comfortable for RA patients to hold the syringe.
The design also includes a clear oval syringe barrel that magnifies the plunger to provide better visibility.
Packaging was also designed with the patient in mind, with for example, a curved front panel that helps patients slide under the flap making it easier to open the product.
The tray provided with the kit is designed for patients with a wide range of limited dexterities so they can more easily remove the syringe from the package.
”We are honoured to receive this award and to be named alongside some of the world’s leading designers,” said Prof. Dr. Iris Loew-Friedrich, Chief Medical Officer of UCB.
“Most importantly, we are proud to be leading the way in developing patient-centric design solutions which make a positive contribution to the lives of patients around the world living with rheumatoid arthritis.”
