BOSTON– Sempresto, Inc., a medical device company developing emergency medication delivery products, said its smartphone-integrated epinephrine auto-injector concept has received a 2026 Red Dot Design Award.
Developed in collaboration with Sagentia Medical, the concept allows a compact epinephrine auto-injector to attach to a smartphone. Sempresto said the design is intended to address a common problem among people at risk of anaphylaxis: having epinephrine immediately available during an emergency.
Food allergies affect an estimated 220 million people worldwide, while epinephrine remains the first-line treatment for severe allergic reactions. Sempresto said many patients do not consistently carry their prescribed auto-injectors.
The company developed the product around the idea that people are less likely to forget their smartphones than a separate epinephrine device. By integrating the injector with a phone, Sempresto aims to make emergency treatment easier to keep within reach.
The Red Dot jury recognized the concept for innovation, functionality, usability and aesthetic quality.
“At Sempresto, we are driven by a singular mission: ensuring that life-saving medications are available when and where they are needed most,” said Elizabeth Reczek, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Sempresto. “This recognition from Red Dot validates our belief that thoughtful, human-centered design can help solve critical healthcare challenges.”
Sempresto said the award comes as it continues development of the smartphone-integrated emergency medication platform toward commercialization. The company also plans to explore additional connected rescue medications aimed at improving access, adherence and patient outcomes.
Sagentia Medical contributed to development of the emergency-use auto-injector prototype, including industrial design, user experience, instructions for use, internal mechanism design and functional testing of the safety and injection systems.
“Our work with Sempresto focused on translating an innovative idea into a practical device that could improve access to life-saving treatment while maintaining the reliability, functionality and usability expected of an emergency drug delivery system,” said Carl Hewett, Vice President, Design at Sagentia Medical.
The Red Dot Design Award is an international design competition recognizing achievements in product design, brands and communications, and design concepts. Entries are evaluated by an international jury based on factors including innovation, functionality, quality and overall design.
