More than 500 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthcare professionals in the US, the UK and mainland Europe were involved in the development process to ensure the device was underpinned by a deep understanding of the users.

An estimated 2.5 million people worldwide have MS, a disease affecting the central nervous system.

"Our aim was to make the ExtaviPro 30G auto-injector very simple and intuitive to use, and enable one-handed injection," said Mr Andy Pidgeon, head, industrial design and human factors group, Cambridge Consultants. "Its ergonomic shape leads patients to instinctively hold it correctly - which is vital for those who suffer from tremors, as having a firm grip is key to self-injecting safely."

The ExtaviPro 30G is aimed at people who suffer from relapsing forms of MS - such as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) - who make up the majority of MS patients.

He further added, "Another key factor was the feedback we received during our extensive user research. Patients wanted a soft, non-threatening design, for example, so we've made it very user friendly. And it's led to the creation of a drug delivery device that doesn't look like a badge of infirmity."