A pharmaceutical experiment in design
(FT.com) — When scientists dreamed up an inhalable form of insulin to overcome the need for diabetics to inject themselves, they quickly won over Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, which launched Exubera in 2006. The researchers were sure their alternative to syringes would prove popular. But patients – who were already benefiting from almost painless needles – were unconvinced because the spraying device was as bulky as a small fire extinguisher. Pfizer withdrew the product and had to write
off nearly $3bn.
It was a sobering reminder of the need for drug developers to work not only with medical specialists to understand the biological workings of the body, but also with patients themselves to appreciate their practical and psychological needs.
“Drug companies used to be focused on the molecule. Now they are looking at other ways to retain value by focusing on the patient experience,” says Arna Ionescu. She recently moved from Ideo, a design-led consultancy, to Proteus Biomedical, a business that makes “intelligent pills” containing soluble microchips linked to detectors that remind patients if they have not swallowed their medication. read more >>
The pill that reminds you when it’s time to take your next dose
(The Independent) – A new era of “intelligent medicines” is heralded today with the disclosure that the NHS is about to begin trials of pills that contain a microchip, reminding patients when to take them.
When the pills are swallowed the “edible” microchips react with the acid in the stomach sending a message to a sticking plaster containing a sensor strapped to the shoulder. If the patient has forgotten a dose, the sensor delivers a text message to the patient’s phone reminding them to take their pills.
In addition, the sticking-plaster sensor monitors the patient’s bodily functions such as heart rate and can recommend adjustments to the dose accordingly, which can also be delivered to the patient via text message. The sensor can also send messages via the internet to carers and, if wanted, other family members, updating them on the patient’s condition. read more >>
Proteus Biomedical Announces European CE Mark Approval of Ingestible Sensor and Monitor System
Company Also Announces Creation of User Experience Group with Former IDEO Leader
(Business Wire) — Proteus Biomedical Inc., a pioneer in intelligent medicine, announced today that it has received CE Mark approval to market its ingestible sensor and personal physiologic monitor system in the European Union. The CE Mark certifies that the Proteus system has met European Union consumer and health requirements. Proteus also received ISO 13485:2003 certification for the design, development and manufacture of its product system.
Proteus’s ingestible sensor and personal monitor system, called the RaisinTM System, is indicated under the CE Mark to timestamp, via ingestion, any discrete event (such as the ingestion of a specific pharmaceutical) and to record this event along with physiologic information such as heart rate, activity, body angle and patient-logged information. The unique ingestion event and personalized physiologic information are then communicated via Bluetooth to any computerized device, such as a mobile phone for emerging mHealth applications.
The Raisin System is being developed as part of Proteus’s integrated intelligent medicine system to link sensor-based formulations of pharmaceutical products to individualized physiologic response and outcomes-based treatment systems. Proteus and its partners are currently developing these integrated product systems in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, organ transplantation and infectious disease.
As part of its development and commercialization of the Raisin System, Proteus also announced today the creation of a new product development group focused on user experience. Arna Ionescu, formerly Connected Health domain lead at the global design firm IDEO, has joined Proteus as Director, Product Development, User Experience. She will lead a team focused on applying the principles of human-centered design to create intelligent medicine products that empower consumers and transform the delivery and management of health care. Ms. Ionescu also teaches product and interaction design at Stanford University and California College of Art.
“CE Mark approval represents a significant achievement for Proteus, and a major milestone for the advancement of intelligent medicine,” said Andrew Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Proteus. “As we commercialize our products and empower patients and their families we will begin to realize the potential of a more connected, pervasive and personalized standard of care that promotes better access, higher value for money and more sustainable innovation models. The timing is very good – many government health budgets are under financial pressure and our approach is one that promises better results with less spending and higher consumer satisfaction.”
About Proteus Biomedical
Proteus Biomedical is pioneering intelligent medicine, an emerging field of advanced therapeutics that integrates in-body computer, sensor and communications technologies into existing pharmaceutical and medical device products. Proteus’s proprietary computing and sensing technologies enable proven therapies to be personalized, offering broad potential benefits across a range of care settings and therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, psychiatric, metabolic and neurologic disorders.
More information about Proteus Biomedical can be found at www.proteusbiomed.com
NHS to test ‘intelligent medicines’
(FT.com) — The National Health Service will begin testing revolutionary high-tech “intelligent medicines” this month, with the aim of saving money by helping patients with heart failure take their drugs regularly and in the right doses.
The Royal Berkshire and Imperial College healthcare trusts are recruiting 40 patients for a clinical trial. The subjects will be given versions of their standard beta-blockers and anti-diuretic prescription pills modified to contain edible microchips.
The chips in the pills, developed by Proteus Biomedical, a California-based company, send signals to a patch attached to the patient’s shoulder. Through a connection to the phone network, the patch sends the patient a text message if he or she has forgotten to take a dose of medicine. read more >>
High-Tech ‘Band-Aids’ Call Doctors
(NPR) – Band-Aids aren’t just for cuts anymore.
There’s a new generation of wireless medical sensors mounted on an adhesive strip. The so-called smart Band-Aid can call a doctor and transmit all kinds of physiological information when it detects a problem.
All this may eventually save lots of money, and lives. But the technology is so new that federal regulators are still figuring out exactly what kind of rules are necessary to keep the public safe.
Even though the technology is cutting edge, it builds on more than a decade of refining the practice of “remote monitoring.” That’s when health care providers give patients simple-to-use home diagnostic equipment that connects to a network. read more >>
The Doctor Is Out, but New Patient Monitoring and Robotics Technology Is In
(Scientific American) - A new generation of medical devices using wireless communications, sophisticated software and data center-driven “cloud” computing promises to deliver health care in ways previously limited to the confines of fancy hospital rooms.
These advances, ranging from edible sensors to cordless heart monitors to robotic arms that mirror a doctor’s movements, presage sharp falls in cost just as consumers clamor for more affordable health care. read more >>
Aiding adherence: five approaches to following prescriptions
The lack of patient adherence arises from cost, inconvenience, forgetfulness and other factors. So experts have called for innovation in this area. As Lars Osterberg, chief of general internal medicine at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California, says, “we must coordinate a number of tools to improve the adherence for individuals.” Here are a handful of approaches to help make that happen. read more >>
Proteus Announces FDA Clearance of Wireless Personal Health Monitor
Company Also Completes Financing with Leading Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Semiconductor Companies as Investors
(Business Wire) — Proteus Biomedical Inc., a pioneer in intelligent medicine, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to market its wireless personal health device, the Raisin Personal Monitor.
Proteus’ Raisin Personal Monitor is a miniaturized, wearable device for remote recording and analysis of heart rate, physical activity, body position and patient-logged events. This personalized physiologic information is then communicated via Bluetooth to any computerized device, such as a mobile phone for emerging mHealth applications. The monitor attaches to a patient’s skin with an adhesive layer and is worn like a Band-Aid®.
This product is being further developed as part of Proteus’ integrated intelligent medicine system to link sensor-based formulations of pharmaceutical products to individualized physiologic response and outcomes-based treatment systems. Proteus and its partners are currently developing these integrated product systems in cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, organ transplantation and infectious disease.
As part of its efforts to develop, manufacture and commercialize intelligent medicine products, Proteus also announced today the completion of its Series E financing. $25 million was raised from existing investors including Medtronic, and new investors Novartis and ON Semiconductor.
“This product clearance represents the first component of our integrated approach to patient- centric, anywhere, anytime mobile health products,” said Andrew Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Proteus. “We believe these product systems can transform health care, and we are delighted that our strategic partners share our vision as investors in Proteus.”
About Proteus Biomedical
Proteus Biomedical is pioneering intelligent medicine, an emerging field of advanced therapeutics that integrates in-body computer, sensor and communications technologies into existing pharmaceutical and medical device products. Proteus’ proprietary computing and sensing technologies enable proven therapies to be personalized, offering broad potential benefits across a range of care settings and therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, psychiatric, metabolic and neurologic disorders.
More information about Proteus Biomedical can be found at www.proteusbiomed.com.
Pills that Remind You to Take Your Meds
(CNN) — If you have problems remembering to take your meds — or whether you’ve taken them already — some high-tech products on the horizon may be able to help you.
Companies are using wireless technology, the same mechanism by which you use a cell phone or the Internet, to develop devices that monitor whether you took your pills as the doctor ordered, beaming information back to you, your doctor or a designated family member. In some cases, this requires swallowing a microchip about as thin as a few human hairs.
The concept may sound invasive, but it has the potential to save as much as $290 billion annually in increased medical costs. That amount is lost every year because of people not taking medications as prescribed, according to the New England Healthcare Institute. Drug adherence is only 50 percent among people with chronic illnesses in developed countries, and in developing nations it is probably lower, according to the World Health Organization. read more >>
Novartis Invests Wisely in Smart Pill
Tiny but sophisticated, Proteus’ design can both monitor a patient’s vital signs and track compliance with prescription drug regimens. The pills transmit information to a microelectronic receiver worn either as a skin patch or implanted under the skin. read more >>