Improving adherence to ulcerative colitis medications: an interview with Mattias Norrman, COO, Tillotts Pharma

Interview conducted by April Cashin-Garbutt, BA Hons (Cantab)

insights from industryMattias NorrmanChief Operations Officer at Tillotts Pharma AG

Please can you outline the results of the recent European study into patient adherence and ulcerative colitis (UC)?

The objective of the survey was two-sided. On one side, we wanted to better understand needs, concerns and attitudes of people with UC in an effort to identify solutions to improve the management of the disease. On the other, we wanted to build a questionnaire that could be used by HCPs to help define patients’ needs and concerns.

The survey found 93% of people with UC have low to medium adherence to medication, putting them at five times greater risk of relapse.

What were the main reasons why UC patients had low to medium adherence to their medication?

There were multiple reasons for non-adherence to medication. The main reasons for non-adherence included forgetting to take medication (51%), cessation of medication once feeling better (21%) and fear of side effects (19%).

Why is adherence to medication so important for people with UC?

Non-adherence to medical treatment represents a major issue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). UC is one of several IBD and involves chronic inflammation of the bowel, which can be debilitating and sometimes can lead to life-threatening complications.

Whilst there is no known cure for UC, treatment can greatly reduce signs and symptoms of the disease and can even bring about long-term remission. Research has shown that, if people with UC have low to medium adherence to medication, they have a five times greater risk of relapse.

Could you please describe the new toolbox Tillotts and the Scientific Committee have created for healthcare professionals?

The UCandMEâ„¢ toolbox features a wide range of digital and physical resources, including a questionnaire to define patient needs and concerns and an educational pack that can be tailored to individuals.

The UCandMEâ„¢ educational pack includes a full range of online tools and resources suggested and developed by IBD experts (10 gastroenterologists and two nurses) that help healthcare professionals educate patients and provide them with useful information:

• Educational brochures
• Adherence items
• Lists of appointment options with other healthcare professionals
• Mobile adherence application
• Slide sets
• Anatomical posters (developed in collaboration with Elsevier Editions)

What were the main reasons for developing the UCandMEâ„¢ toolbox and what impact do you hope it will have?

Tillotts is committed to partnering with healthcare professionals to provide support programs, such as UCandMEâ„¢, that can help healthcare professionals to improve outcomes for people with gastrointestinal diseases.

In this instance, Tillotts partnered with a scientific committee of leading medical experts to develop the UCandMEâ„¢ toolbox to support the gastroenterology community improve patient adherence and education.

How do you think UCandMEâ„¢ will affect the doctor-patient relationship?

I think UCandME™ will have a very positive effect for the doctor-patient relationship. From March 2014 to May 2014, 135 people with UC and 27 physicians in eight countries across Europe (UK, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Ireland and the Czech Republic) were interviewed to test the UCandME™ questionnaire in “real-life” to ensure that the survey fits well within the practice of healthcare professionals.

The UCandME™ questionnaire is a patient-centered resource that can help healthcare professionals identify a patient’s needs and concerns about the disease, helping them to empathize with their patients, and educate them to help improve the management of their condition.

How important do you think digital tools will be in the management of conditions such as UC in the future and how do Tillotts plan to contribute further to this field?

Digital tools can be incredibly useful for both healthcare professionals and patients, especially in the management of chronic conditions like UC. Our survey found that 72 percent of patients used a smartphone and 80 percent check their emails every day. In addition, the main sources of information for patients with mild or moderate UC at diagnosis were physicians and nurses (73 percent) and the internet (67 percent).

The UCandME™ program has been launched on a global level during the 10th Congress of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) in Barcelona, Spain. We are planning to launch country-specific adaptations of the platform in Ireland, the Czech Republic and the Nordics, including Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, throughout 2015 and in additional European countries throughout 2016.

Are Tillotts planning to remain solely in the GI field?

Tillotts focus is on Gastroenterology we are dedicated to the development, in/out-licensing and marketing of innovative pharmaceutical products, medical devices and diagnostics, all in the field of gastroenterology.

Where can readers find more information?

Healthcare professionals can access the password and username protected UCandME™ toolbox at www.ucandme.org.  

About Mattias Norrman

Mattias Norrman is Chief Operations Officer at Tillotts Pharma AG. Tillotts Pharma, part of the Zeria Group, is a fast-growing specialty pharma company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products, medical devices and diagnostics, focused on gastroenterology.

In his current role, Mr. Norrman has overall responsibility for quality assurance, technical alliance, regulatory affairs and commercial operations for Tillotts Pharma and its affiliates in Europe. He has over 21 years of experience with Tillotts Pharma inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) portfolio, initially as a Tillotts Pharma’s business partner and currently as a member of Tillotts Pharma’s Executive Committee.

Mr. Norrman helped Tillotts Pharma to successfully market Asacol® and Colpermin® as well as in-licensed products, such as Simtomax® in over 55 countries through its own affiliates within Europe and a carefully chosen network of gastroenterology-focused marketing partners throughout the world.

Mr. Norrman has 28 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry, having held various senior management positions in companies such as Schering and Bayer. He holds a bachelor of medicine from Uppsala University, Sweden.