October 10, 2015. The Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka Pharaceutical and the company Proteus Digital Health wish to market soon in the USA, the first connected drug. To do so, all that is needed is the authorization of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So how does it work?
A drug for better patient monitoring
We call connected medicine, an electronic pill that contains an ingestible sensor. This is actually a connected version of the antidepressant called Ability. The sensor located in the tablet is associated with another sensor placed inside an adhesive patch stuck on the chest. This device makes it possible to collect physiological data after taking medication. The results are transmitted directly to the smartphone of the patient or a caregiver and can be analyzed later by a healthcare professional.
For patients with mental illness or cognitive decline, it is often difficult to discuss different treatments. With such a tablet and the analysis of the data, doctors would be able to deliver the best possible treatment to their patients.
A perfect solution for dosages and oversights
It is known that a change in dosage can influence the results and progression of a disease. Badly evaluated, it can be dangerous for the patient. Depending on the reaction of patients following taking their medication, the doctor can monitor the effects of the latter in real time and thus determine whether the treatment is adequate. If not, then it will be easy to change the dosage! The connected drug also makes it possible to monitor the drug intake. For example, by connecting it to a caregiver’s smartphone, it is possible to know if the patient has taken his treatment.
If the FDA gives its approval, it will only remain to know if the general public adheres to this connected drug!
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source: fda.gov |
