University and healthtech firm eLucid mHealth collaborate to develop smart pill dispenser

The Medication Adherence Expertise Center of the Netherlands based at the University Medical Center Groningen is working closely with Elucid mHealth on the final development of a smart pill dispensing solution called Pill Connect.

The solution aims to prompt patients and allow both trial investigators and doctors to effectively monitor medication adherence and provide insights. Assistant professor of drug utilisation research Dr Job FM van Boven will lead the collaboration and the running of a clinical trial entitled 'Patient acceptability and technical robustness of a smart pill connect system for monitoring non-adherence.' The trial is already underway and due to report back in early August.

The Pill Connect system has already undergone a trial with a CRO with prototype devices which recorded a 91% technical robustness. The collaboration is on final refinements to the bottle to achieve 100% robustness and will involve 10 subjects on a 13-day trial. The trial will compare results with the prototype trial and also provide data on ease of use and transmission of data to the doctor or investigator.

Assistant professor Dr. Job FM van Boven said: "We still have to wait for the study results, but a smart medication dispense system like this could really open up the current black box of medication adherence. In doing so, this provides both trialists and clinicians with unprecedented opportunities to support patients making the most of their medication."

Patient adherence is key in clinical trials to ensure that trial results are as accurate as possible. It is also key in the community where adherence rates of under 60% are not uncommon, even in crucial disease areas such as transplant rejection drugs.

Elucid is already in discussions with several top tier Pharmas, CROs, CMOs, and the NHS all of whom all keen to find effective ways to monitor patient adherence in real time.

How the Pill Connect system works

• Preparation - A patient has an app loaded onto their mobile phone (iPhone or android) which contains the pill regime – e.g. twice a day. Is trained how to use the app – 20 minutes - and given a Pill Connect bottle loaded with pills.
• Patient use - The patient receives a reminder to take a pill via the app at a pre-determined time. The patient responds to the reminder and a pill is dispensed and the data sent to a control centre.
• Side effects – If the patient is unwell or believes that they are suffering from a side effect to the medication they have the option to not take the pill and tell the investigator why.
• Non – adherence/not wanting to take pill - If the patient does not respond or has a reason why they can’t take the medication, a text or call can be made automatically or manually to prompt adherence or find out the reason for refusal.
• Comprehensive data - The doctor or administrator has comprehensive data on each patients dispensing pattern.
• Safety - The bottle is locked outside the prescribed times to prevent double dosing.

The Pill Connect dispenser mechanism and electronics are designed to fit onto a standard pill bottle which is easily filled or refilled by a pharmacist. The capacity of the pill bottle will depend upon the pill size but will have a minimum of 30 pills. The dispensing mechanism can be adjusted to handle pills or capsules of different sizes. 

Elucid CEO, James Burnstone, said: “We are delighted to be working with the team in Groningen given they have such wide expertise in this area. The trial will incorporate some changes we made to the prototype bottles and we are aiming for 100% robustness.”