Breaking Update: Here’s a clear explanation of the latest developments related to Breaking News:Priorities for Next-Gen Adrenaline Auto-Injectors – EMJ– What Just Happened and why it matters right now.
ANAPHYLAXIS is a life-threatening allergic emergency, yet adrenaline auto-injectors remain underused as a treatment option, prompting renewed interest in developing improved devices. A new survey of allergy-trained physicians across Europe has highlighted key limitations of current adrenaline auto-injectors and outlined priorities for next-generation adrenaline delivery systems.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapid-onset allergic reaction that can affect multiple organ systems and may lead to respiratory or cardiovascular collapse. Prompt intramuscular administration of adrenaline is widely recommended as first-line treatment. However, despite clear clinical guidance, studies have repeatedly shown that adrenaline auto-injectors are not always prescribed or used optimally, raising concerns about barriers to effective emergency management.
To better understand clinician perspectives, researchers from the European Anaphylaxis Registry and the Allergy-Vigilance Network conducted an electronic survey between March–April 2025. The survey asked physicians to rank the importance of features and challenges related to current and emerging adrenaline delivery devices using an 11-point Likert scale ranging from zero (“not important”) to 10 (“very important”).
Physicians Outline Needs for Future Adrenaline Auto-Injectors
A total of 175 physicians participated in the survey, with allergists accounting for 59.4% of respondents. Overall, the findings suggested that there were relatively few barriers to prescribing existing adrenaline auto-injectors, but clinicians identified several improvements that could enhance future devices.
Among the most highly prioritised features were a longer product shelf life and improved storage conditions, both receiving a median importance score of 9. Physicians also emphasised the need for more detailed pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data and improved dose optimisation, each with median scores of 8. Practical considerations were also prominent, with respondents rating portability, availability in public spaces, and the development of needle-free devices as important design goals for new adrenaline technologies.
Barriers to Adoption of New Adrenaline Devices
The survey also explored factors that might influence clinician willingness to adopt new devices. Physicians indicated that patients with a history of severe anaphylaxis requiring multiple adrenaline injections, or those admitted to intensive care, represented the most significant barriers to switching to newer delivery systems.
Importantly, around 75% of respondents reported that recommendations from allergy societies and stronger clinical evidence would be essential to support the uptake of emerging technologies. These findings suggest that guideline endorsement and real-world patient data could play a crucial role in facilitating the transition to innovative treatment options.
Although the study relied on physician opinions rather than patient outcomes, the results offer valuable insight into how future adrenaline devices could be designed to better support emergency allergy care. Further clinical research involving patients with anaphylaxis will be necessary to determine whether these innovations translate into improved treatment accessibility and outcomes.
Reference
Pouessel G. New adrenaline devices for treating anaphylaxis: results of a joint survey from the European Anaphylaxis Registry and the Allergy-Vigilance Network. Clin Transl Allergy. 2026; DOI:10.1002/clt2.70162.
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