Teva launches new MS eHealth site
pharmafile | September 4, 2014 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | Teva, digital, ms ireland, multiple sclerosis, pow health
Teva and MS Ireland have helped launch a new website called Pow Health to give multiple sclerosis patients a “one-stop personal online health centre”.
Pow Health was officially released in Ireland this week by the country’s deputy politician Mary Mitchell O’Connor.
The launch was supported by charity MS Ireland and Teva, maker of the world’s biggest multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), which brings in sales of around $4 billion a year.
Pow Health is designed to help users monitor their symptoms and progress, as well as manage health records, track medications, set personal goals or monitor emotional and physical well-being.
The site’s health trackers can monitor and record a multiple of relevant areas such as specific treatments and medications, symptoms, lab test results, blood pressure and weight.
The Pow Health group says in a statement that the site is unique, as it provides a “one-stop personal online health centre” without the need to use individual health trackers from differing sites.
The results and outputs from these trackers can then be shared, reviewed and discussed with healthcare professionals such as neurologists, or MS specialist nurses during each patient’s healthcare check-up.
The group says that these trackers will ensure that medical professionals will have the most up-to-date and relevant information available to them, to assist in making the most informed decisions on behalf of their MS patients.
Social media
A recent survey found that almost one-third of Irish people living with MS currently engage with other MS sufferers on social networking sites such as Facebook.
And 86% of MS patients surveyed said they wanted increased online services to help them better manage their condition, whilst also providing greater opportunities to engage with people also impacted by MS.
To address this need, Pow Health says it will also offer users a ‘social outlet’ by allowing both those with MS, their carers and family members to engage online through a variety of chat forums.
Sandra Gannon, general manager of Teva in Ireland, says: “The launch of Pow Health for Irish patients synchronises with the wider trend in healthcare where patients globally are increasingly encouraged to take greater personal control of their health.
“Developments in technology and eHealth initiatives in particular can actively facility such patient empowerment.” She goes on: “We believe that Pow Health will become an invaluable bridge for communication and understanding between patients, health charities and healthcare professionals.”
“The service has been designed to be flexible enough to engage patients with specific symptoms or particular disorders or with the whole health and wellbeing community on the site. Organisations will be able to promote key messages, carry out research and even engage audiences for clinical trials.”
Competitive MS market
Teva will hope having its name attached to this new site will indirectly help increase awareness of Copaxone, as well as help MS patients. The firm is looking for new ways to help shore up sales of its drug now that it has been hit by patent expiries, and faces more on the horizon.
The Israeli firm, which focusses predominately on generics has already said it expects to lose $550 million to copycat versions this year alone.
Teva is also having to contend with newer MS drugs by a number of firms, and even pill versions from companies like Novartis and MS specialist Biogen that are looking to sweep in to the market, making it more competitive than ever before.
Ben Adams
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