IMPORTANCE OF ORAL DRUG PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS TO PATIENTS AND IMPLICATIONS OF CHARACTERISTIC CHANGES FOR MISSED DOSES AND INFORMATION SEEKING
Author(s)
Leila G. Lackey, DEnv, MHS1, Joshua Coulter, MA1, Rachel Bergstresser, BA2, Sam Zorfas, BA2, Scott Wilkerson, MA2, Claire Everitt, MEng1, Kellyn Zagaja, PhD1, Brett Hauber, PhD1;
1Pfizer, New York, NY, USA, 2HawkPartners, Boston, MA, USA
1Pfizer, New York, NY, USA, 2HawkPartners, Boston, MA, USA
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the relative importance to patients of drug product characteristics and evaluate the likely impact of characteristic changes on missed doses and likelihood to seek information.
METHODS: Adults in France (n=401) and Ireland (n=401) regularly taking ≥1 oral prescription medications completed a survey including a 27-item, objective case best-worst-scaling exercise, questions about self-reported frequency of missed doses with current medication, and expected likelihood of missing a dose in response to changes in medication characteristics.
RESULTS: The sample was diverse in terms of age, gender, education, and income. Swallowability was the most important characteristic (5-8 times as important as the next most important characteristic). The next five most important characteristics were small size, normal shape, dissolves in mouth before swallowing, smooth feel, and glossy/shiny finish. Swallowability was 1.4 times as important for the oldest age group (≥59 years) compared with the youngest age group (18-42 years). Changes in swallowability, smell, and presence of crushed/broken tablets increased the expected likelihood of missing a dose or stopping the medication for most patients (53-63%); people with cancer and people with life-threatening symptomatic conditions were least likely to state that they would likely miss a dose or stop a medication following changes in characteristics; however, more than a third of these patients reported they would likely miss a dose or stop medication. Most patients (93-97%) reported they would ask to switch medication and/or seek information following changes in medication characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS: Swallowability was the most important drug product characteristic to patients in our sample. Condition severity impacted the relative importance of drug characteristics. Even among patients with serious, life-threatening conditions, changes in drug product characteristics may impact adherence. This suggests the importance of investing in determining the acceptability of drug product characteristics in early product development, regardless of the therapeutic context.
METHODS: Adults in France (n=401) and Ireland (n=401) regularly taking ≥1 oral prescription medications completed a survey including a 27-item, objective case best-worst-scaling exercise, questions about self-reported frequency of missed doses with current medication, and expected likelihood of missing a dose in response to changes in medication characteristics.
RESULTS: The sample was diverse in terms of age, gender, education, and income. Swallowability was the most important characteristic (5-8 times as important as the next most important characteristic). The next five most important characteristics were small size, normal shape, dissolves in mouth before swallowing, smooth feel, and glossy/shiny finish. Swallowability was 1.4 times as important for the oldest age group (≥59 years) compared with the youngest age group (18-42 years). Changes in swallowability, smell, and presence of crushed/broken tablets increased the expected likelihood of missing a dose or stopping the medication for most patients (53-63%); people with cancer and people with life-threatening symptomatic conditions were least likely to state that they would likely miss a dose or stop a medication following changes in characteristics; however, more than a third of these patients reported they would likely miss a dose or stop medication. Most patients (93-97%) reported they would ask to switch medication and/or seek information following changes in medication characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS: Swallowability was the most important drug product characteristic to patients in our sample. Condition severity impacted the relative importance of drug characteristics. Even among patients with serious, life-threatening conditions, changes in drug product characteristics may impact adherence. This suggests the importance of investing in determining the acceptability of drug product characteristics in early product development, regardless of the therapeutic context.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
PCR159
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Adherence, Persistence, & Compliance
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas