Swiss injection pen developer Haselmeier and Boston-based Common Sensing have partnered to develop smart connected self-injection devices that can monitor drug administration, dosing and efficacy of therapies.
Under the agreement, Haselmeier’s subcutaneous drug delivery injection systems for self-administration such as the D-Flex injector will be combined with Common Sensing’s Gocap injector monitoring technology, creating a first-of-its-kind, smart disposable injector pen platform, which will be marketed by Haselmeier from 2019. The combined platform will record the time and amount of every injector dose, along with other information like storage temperature. Connected devices address a global market of over 16 billion injections of medicines annually.
Currently, about 50% of patients do not take the prescription meds properly. Connectivity is "a great opportunity to significantly improve treatment compliance", which could "have significant impact on outcomes", Paul E. Jansen, Haselmeier Senior Advisor and Board Member told European Biotechnology in an interview. " If you could collect data about what was taken, when it was taken, etc. and link it to the outcome or clinical efficacy, payors would be much happier to pay for a drug because they see they are getting value for their money." The addition of a custom-designed Gocap injector monitor to the Haselmeier product portfolio will also allow pharmaceutical companies to quickly launch connected injectable medicines into the market.
To get a quick foothold in the emerging market, Haselmeier starts with add-on-technologies to its devices. The long-term strategic goal, however, is to put connectivity into disposable devices. “The joint relationship we have built will enable Haselmeier and Common Sensing to rapidly bring a unique connected pen solution on the market,” said Jansen.
Gocap information may be made available for users, caretakers, clinicians, healthcare systems, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies. This information is a critical element of any connected health solution for people using injectable medicine. Gocap dose monitoring has been clinically validated for use with insulin pens in studies at the world-renowned Joslin Diabetes Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, and The University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center.
“There is a high need to provide patients the means to better monitor the efficacy of their therapy and the injection experience is a crucial moment in a patient’s therapy. The collaboration of Haselmeier with Common Sensing is a smart and fast way to achieve our objective in improving patients’ lives,” said Frédéric Gabriel, Haselmeier Chief Strategy Officer.
