The potential patient experience with subcutaneous immunotherapy: Less time spent on administration and more comfort

Q: What is subcutaneous treatment?

A: Medicine administered through the subcutaneous method is delivered in the fatty tissue through a short and narrow needle. Some subcutaneous treatment is mixed with an enzyme called recombinant human hyaluronidase, which helps disperse and absorb the medicine, therefore allowing larger volumes of medicine to be administered in less time.

Q: What are the differences between IV and subcutaneous treatment options that are important to consider?

A: Before subcutaneous options became available, immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments were only available through IV infusion, which takes longer for administering the treatment and more preparation steps, including limitation on location. IV infusion can be associated with pain and discomfort, and getting the medicine can take a longer time to administer.

Now, let’s look at the benefits of subcutaneous injections:

• Time savings: Subcutaneous immunotherapy offers less administration time spent (as compared with IV).
• Flexibility: This method can be administered in treatment centers, clinics and outside of the hospital setting.
• No port access needed: With subcutaneous immunotherapy, the need for vein access is avoided.

A drawback is that absorption is slower with subcutaneous formulation—which can be sped up with recombinant human hyaluronidase. For some people, IV infusions may make more sense, especially if they are receiving multiple treatments through the same mode.

Subcutaneous formulations can provide time savings due to less administration time while also making treatment potentially more accessible.

Q: Is subcutaneous immunotherapy as effective as an IV option?

A: Subcutaneous immunotherapy can deliver similar results and a comparable safety profile to IV infusions in less administration time, while also offering the flexibility to receive treatment in multiple locations.

Q: How can patients know if subcutaneous therapy is a good option for them?

A: Many factors go into choosing the most appropriate treatment option, so patients should talk to their doctors to create a treatment plan that is right for them. However, subcutaneous treatment options may be an approach to consider for patients who are looking to save time. They may offer similar results and comparable safety profile to IV infusions.