It is estimated that 50% of patients who use prescription drugs do not receive the full benefit of these medications due to inconsistencies in dosage which include forgetting to take their pills, taking the incorrect dose, or other factors such as timing or interaction with ingested substances like certain foods or drinks. Proteus Digital Health has developed a system that provides a solution to these issues.
The system has three components: the patient's cell phone, a patch worn on the skin near the abdomen, and a prescription pill embedded with a magnesium/copper sensor about the size of a grain of sand. The way it works is similar to a potato battery made by students in science class learning about electricity. Two nails get inserted into the potato, and wires are wound around the nails. The wires get attached to a small clock or lamp, and when the circuit is complete, the potato and nails provide enough current to operate the clock or lamp.
In the case of the sensor-mounted medication, the patient takes the pill as usual. Contact with stomach acid activates the sensor, which relays information about dosage timing and biometrics including heart rate and body position to the patch, which then transmits the data to the patient's cell phone. The sensor transmits the data for up to seven days, making the metrics available for review by the patient, his or her physician, and other personnel such as caregivers. Eventually, the sensor breaks down and leaves the body through the gastrointestinal system.
A clinical study of sixty-three patients revealed no unintended effects from the sensor itself, but a few rashes from the electrodes in the external patch were reported. Patients and their families reported a high level of satisfaction with the system, and when the trials were over, they asked to keep using them. The US FDA granted approval of the system in July 2012.
Proteus is currently working on sensor-enabled versions of drugs used in common chronic conditions. Patients living with the challenges of neurological issues such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, or mental health challenges such as schizophrenia and related disorders need to keep close watch on their medication to ensure good management of symptoms so they can function at the highest level possible. For transplant patients, the sensor helps to track compliance with the immunosuppressant drug regimen, especially after discharge from the hospital, to avoid rejection and keep complications to a minimum. A glucometer the same size as the sensor is in the works for mounting on diabetes medications such as Metaformin, enabling the patient, doctor, and other members of the care team to have a more objective picture of the patient's compliance with the treatment plan, and the patient's response to the treatment plan.
In addition to supporting patient compliance with treatment protocols, the sensor-enabled pills will keep costs contained by preventing waste and ensuring that the patient is receiving the medication that will provide the highest level of efficacy, supporting him or her and the care team in the healthiest life possible.
Fran Jablway
and
Hulet Smith, OT
