Pfizer Korea said Tuesday it has released an injection tool and program called Enbrel Myclic Pen Injection, a biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, for patient convenience.

These pens, which make a clicking sound at the start and end of the injection, will increase patient convenience by easing the process of self-injections, the company said.

In a survey, 93 percent of patients said the Enbrel Myclic Pen Injection is more convenient than a prefilled syringe, Pfizer Korea said, adding that the rate of self-injections also increased from 66 to 94 percent.

Enbrel (ingredient: etanercept) is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) that gained approval in 2003 for the first time in Korea. It has since gained approval to treat six diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, idiopathic childhood arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and condylar spondyloarthritis not found through radiation.

Various clinical trials proved the efficacy and safety profile for the drug in multiple indications, the company said.

A usage and video guide will help beginner patients learn how to use the Myclic pen efficiently, Pfizer Korea said, adding that the firm will also provide medical professionals a demo kit, which is a sample of hands-on lab exercises used for patient education.

“Enbrel has helped many patients manage their disease since it first appeared in the domestic market in 2003. This year, we introduced Enbrel Myclic pens to enhance the ease of treatment by adding devices and programs that help patients more easily self-inject,” said Kim Hee-yeon, a Pfizer official. “We will continue to strengthen development and investment so that patients can get convenient treatment to meet our patient-first values.”

Pfizer’s Enbrel generated revenues of about $617 million in the second quarter, indicating an approximate 19 percent decline from the same quarter of last year, and a 5 percent decline from the previous quarter, according to Market Realist.

Amgen markets Enbrel in the U.S. and Canada, while Pfizer sells the drug outside of the U.S. and Canada.