Smart technology and wearables represent a big growth area and it is not just consumer electronics where the innovations are taking place. With medical devices (inhalers) and even medicines (smart pills), pharmaceutical companies are considering different means to collect data about how and when people use medicine.
Announced this week is a “smart inhaler.” The inhaler contains a special type of sensor that can wirelessly transit data about the use of the device by the patient. The sensor has been developed jointly between GSK and a U.S. based firm called Propeller Health. As part of the first phase — using the GSK branded Ellipta inhaler with a focus on clinical trials — the intention is to use the device to examine patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The idea is to assess and improve medication adherence (to check that patients are using the device when they should), and also to gather data about the time of day the device is used and the types of symptoms that might require the use of the inhaler.
The type of information collected via this ‘smart device’ includes the date and time a patient takes their medicine. The data is then sent to mobile phone, and then transmitted to a central data repository for analysis at a GSK center.
Commenting on the initiative, Dave Allen, senior vice president of respiratory R&D at GSK told PharmaFile: “We continue to find new and better ways to conduct clinical trials by exploring novel patient centered outcomes through strategic collaborations. Using innovative sensor technology to improve the quality of adherence data collected during our studies will advance our understanding of disease and inform our decision-making in the development of new medicines.”
In a similar patient-data monitoring move, Otsuka and Proteus Health are aiming to launch a‘digital’ Abilify (aripiprazole) pill. The pill can wirelessly transmit data from a sensor embedded in the tablet to healthcare professionals. The aim is to check whether patients are really taking their medicine.
Such “smart medicine” will impress some and worry others. Digital Journal is interested to hear your views on the direction medical technology is taking. Please use the comments section below.
