Novartis and Qualcomm to develop smart inhaler technology for COPD
pharmafile | January 8, 2016 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications | COPD, Novartis, Qualcomm Life, breezhaler, digital inhaler, qualcomm
Novartis has enlisted Qualcomm life to help the pharma giant develop the ‘next generation’ of its Breezhaler device for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The collaboration is between Novartis and Qualcomm’s subsidiary, Qualcomm Life. The two companies will work together to create a digital innovation with the Breezhaler inhaler.
Qualcomm Life will provide a technology solution to allow mobile and internet cloud connectivity for Breezhaler. The inhaler is used in Novartis’ portfolio of COPD treatments of Onbrez (indacaterol), Seebri (glycopyrronium bromide), and Ultibro (glycopyrronium bromide and indacaterol maleate), the leading COPD treatment in this class.
In a statement Novartis says: “This next generation of the Breezhaler inhaler will enable patients to have access to their own data on the use of their inhaler in near real time. The small, disposable and low power module contained within the inhaler device can detect and report usage, the time that the inhaler is used, as well as additional relevant information for patients and physicians.
“The module then wirelessly sends the data to the patient’s smartphone and a Novartis COPD mobile application, which sends the data to the cloud, allowing patients and potentially their healthcare providers to monitor their COPD. The connected device will be ready for use by patients, with no assembly required.”
David Epstein, head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals says: “Novartis supports patients being empowered to make it easier for them to manage their chronic conditions. By enabling near real-time data capture from the patient and the connected Breezhaler device, patients can monitor their own adherence to the medication they take which is vital to their health outcomes.”
Novartis says its aim is “to be the first company in respiratory medicine to offer a completely integrated, connected delivery device to provide a seamless, easy to use and simple experience for patients.”
However it faces competition from its respiratory rival GSK, who is working with the US technology firm Propeller Health to develop a sensor for use in clinical trials of the Ellipta inhaler. Propeller Health is the provider of an FDA-approved digital health solution for improving outcomes in asthma and COPD.
The sensor, designed by US firm Propeller Health, will record patients’ use of the inhaler, and wirelessly transmit the data to a central repository. It will be used in studies of patients with asthma and COPD.
- This month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas technology firm Church & Dwight unveiled the First Response digital pregnancy test – the first and only smart, Bluetooth-enabled pregnancy test on the market. Powered by technology from Qualcomm Life, the digital test syncs to an app on a user’s mobile phone “to provide a unique, digital testing experience for women.” As well as test results, the kit offers a variety of options to ease anxiety before the results are displayed after three minutes, and an ‘action plan’ based on the test results.
Lilian Anekwe
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