Digital health technology to manage respiratory diseases

Adherium, a New Zealand-based provider of digital health technologies, has entered into a partnership with global biopharma AstraZeneca. Under the long-term supply agreement, Adherium will supply innovative new devices and sensors that AstraZeneca will incorporate within global patient support programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

Currently, clinicians do not have a system to record inhaler usage and rely heavily on patient feedback, which can be inaccurate. An objective source of data would enable these physicians to identify suboptimal medication adherence and suggest more effective treatment plans for patients.

Adherium’s Smartinhaler product range comprises a variety of electronic monitors that record the time and date of the use of an individual’s inhaler and transmits that information to the patient’s mobile and to the treating physician. The devices also transmit reminders to the patient when they miss a critical dose, as well as warnings when their rescue medication use indicates their condition is becoming uncontrolled.

AstraZeneca has already successfully used this technology in clinical evaluations and trials, and has piloted its use in programs to support patients in the management of their conditions. Now, the company plans to use the technology as the pivotal component of its global patient support programs.

The technology will initially be used to monitor patients’ use of therapy and provide personalised advice to patients based on their conditions and medication use. In the future, developments are likely to include additional sensors designed to monitor a patient’s condition and potentially to assess a patient’s personalised risk factors.

“This partnership signifies a change in the way we approach the treatment of respiratory disease,” said Adherium Chairman Dr Doug Wilson. “By providing objective and accurate data on a patient’s medication usage, we can now for the first time develop treatment plans tailored to each patient and, in doing so, dramatically improve their quality of life.”