We are always being asked: “Why don’t we have an EpiPen style injection for our hydrocortisone emergency injection?”  Previously the answer has been the complexities of science and the stability of the medication. But thanks to SOLUtion Medical, this request is becoming a reality.

Back in 2020, ADSHG awarded our Professor John Wass Emergency Medicine Award research grant to help fund SOLUtion’s research, to develop an EpiPen like device for the administration of emergency hydrocortisone.

Here we catch up with Julia Anthony. Julia is the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of SOLUtion Medical. But she brings more than her expertise and experience to the role. Julia lives with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia herself, a primary adrenal insufficiency condition, and therefore knows first-hand the difficulties of current adrenal rescue medication.

We’re delighted to welcome Julia back to our 2024 AGM held in London, to present updates on this breakthrough research. You can watch Julia's presentation via our Addison's Roadshow @Home on our online forum.

Thank you for joining our 2024 London meeting Julia! For those who might be meeting you for the first time, please tell us more about the aims of this research?

SOLUtion Medical is a pharmaceutical company focusing on drugs requiring mixing (i.e. reconstitution) at the point of care. SOLUtion was founded to simplify the cumbersome and confusing process for adrenal crisis treatment, which is currently unsuitable for self-administration during emergencies.

Our research program is developing two products; firstly a 3-step pre-filled syringe and a secondly; a 2-step auto-injector; for delivering adrenal crisis medication in a rescue situation. With our devices, we aim to eliminate the need for cumbersome and confusing rescue kits and replace those kits with delivery devices designed to fit into patients’ lifestyles.

Why is this research important?

Virtually everyone at risk for an adrenal crisis must carry a rescue kit, and these kits are not straightforward or easy to use.

As a result, too few people inject themselves with rescue medication at the onset of an adrenal crisis resulting in longer hospital stays, lower quality of life, and even death. A simple, easy-to-use device will reduce the complexity and difficulties of injections, providing an EpiPen-like experience that is intended to improve compliance with rescue injections during an adrenal crisis.

How will findings benefit people with Addison’s disease and adrenal insufficiency?

By simplifying rescue injections, more people who are at risk of adrenal crisis will be empowered to carry and use their rescue medication. SOLUtion’s easy-to-use delivery devices aim to reduce onerous combination drug delivery and to improve user experience, increase adherence, improve outcomes, decrease healthcare burden, and, most importantly, save lives.

In 2020 we were delighted to award your work the ADSHG Professor John Wass Emergency Medical Research Grant. How has the research progressed since then?

Since being awarded the ADSHG Professor John Wass Emergency Medical Research Grant in 2020, our research has made significant strides. SOLUtion Medical is actively advancing the development of two innovative products for adrenal crisis treatment — a pre-filled syringe and an auto-injector. These advancements represent our commitment to expanding market reach and offering patients, caregivers, and clinicians convenient, user-friendly, and cost-effective options for managing adrenal crises both at home and in healthcare settings.

Back in 2022, you kindly travelled to Dublin to show our members the prototype auto-injector TwistJECT™! How does this feedback inform your work?

Ongoing collaboration with patients, clinicians, and advocacy groups has been instrumental in shaping SOLUtion's product design and commercial strategies; particularly product shape, size, and transportability. These valuable insights and feedback have guided us in developing solutions that meet real-world needs effectively.

What are the next steps for this research?

The next steps for this research involve the SOLUtion Team actively advancing its supply chain to prepare for the commercial launch of our products. This includes finalizing manufacturing processes, ensuring regulatory compliance, conducting clinical trials where applicable, and establishing distribution channels. Our focus remains on delivering safe, effective, and accessible medical solutions to benefit patients worldwide.

When will the devices be available?

Understandably we get asked this question a lot! At this time, the entire SOLUtion team is working to bring a robust, reliable and effective product to market as quickly as possible, but we are not currently sharing anticipated dates on project completion. 

How can we support this research?

Looking ahead, as SOLUtion prepares for market approval with regulatory bodies like the MHRA and the EMA, sustained support from patients, caregivers, clinicians, and key opinion leaders will be pivotal. Your help will generate market pull, demonstrating a strong demand and desire for enhanced adrenal crisis treatments, making a positive difference in the lives of those affected by adrenal crisis.

As SOLUtion Medical is based in Philadelphia in the United States, how will this affect the availability of SOLUtion’s products in the UK and around the world?

While SOLUtion’s main base is in the US, we have strategically located portions of our manufacturing operations worldwide. Additionally, we are actively exploring multiple distribution channels for SOLUtion's products in the UK and Europe to ensure SOLUtion’s products will be available to those who need them in these regions. With this global presence we intend to efficiently serve the adrenal insufficiency community worldwide, enhancing accessibility to critical medical solutions and meaningful impact on healthcare outcomes worldwide.

What is your greatest wish for this research and the Addison's and adrenal insufficiency community? 

Our greatest wish for this research and the Addison's and adrenal insufficiency community is to create an environment where individuals at risk of adrenal crisis can live confidently, without constant fear. Just as someone experiencing an allergic reaction relies on an EpiPen for immediate help, our goal is for widespread awareness and preparedness for adrenal crises. 

This level of understanding and readiness could transform outcomes for individuals at risk of adrenal crisis, ensuring they receive the urgent care they need in critical moments.

Where can we find out more information about you?

SOLUtion Website - Facebook - X/Twitter - Instagram - LinkedIn

We continue to update members on our research projects at our AGMs, meetings, in our magazine and also email updates, so join us to become a member to hear updates direct!

Donate to fund vital research

Stay in touch - follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.