This was right before heading into college and it afforded us the opportunity to shape our education around this invention and building the company. Evan worked towards a masters in Engineering and Eric took the medicine/ pharmacy professional route.

HC: How did you come up with the EpiCard specifically?
IE: As patients, we noticed shortcomings with the current leading epinephrine auto-injector. These concerns were validated with other parents and patients. When we completed our early primary market research, the three areas of concerns that were constantly mentioned included concerns around the Size, Safety, and Ease of Use of the currently marketed products.

HC: How is this product an improvement upon the current epinephrine injectors?
IE:
1) Size - The current devices are marker-sized and bulky. Studies have shown up to approximately 70% of those prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors do not carry it with them at all times

2) Safety - The currently marketed injectors have a needle that sticks out post-injection. This presents a sharps hazard and risk of a needle-stick injury.

3) Ease of Use - Current epinephrine delivery systems were not designed for the end user and use-related hazards occur often. For instance, using the pen metaphor- the safety cap is covering a hole and when you remove it, you would think that it's protecting the needle "business" end. This is not the case, so users sometimes remove this cap, flip the device over to inject, and end up injecting their finger or thumb instead. In addition, the device incorporates our "prompt" platform that provides audible and visual guidance to a patient to assist them or a care provider with the administration of the epinephrine.

HC: What are your short-term goals and long-term goals for this product?
IE: Short term- we aim to get the product FDA approved and into the hands of patients in order to save lives.
Long term- we plan on continuing to incorporate feedback from parents, patients, physicians, and other stakeholders as mentioned above to provide solutions to at-risk, severely allergic patients and patients suffering from other chronic and acute diseases.

HC: What is your advice to parents of allergic children, or to family members of allergic loved ones about emergency medicine delivery systems?
IE: Practice using the trainer devices often; make sure others around your loved ones practice as well. There are resources available to assist with being prepared for an allergic emergency. Visit www.fightsevereallergy.com for one such resource.

Thank you Eric and Evan!