https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSDIkGnkibk
Novartis has plans to roll out a COPD app it began developing two years ago to 10 countries this year. But there are still no plans to introduce it in the U.S. market despite the level of interest in better managing the chronic condition to reduce 30-day readmission rates.
The app, formerly known as Helio, is called Volari COPD and includes education, monitoring tools and gamification components, according to an emailed statement from Novartis. It is one of more than 100 apps the company has in its portfolio. In an emailed response to questions from the company’s head office in Basel, a spokeswoman noted that it’s not designed to be a companion app for Novartis medications and it’s not designed to accompany specific medical devices either. Don’t bother searching for it on Novartis’ website. I could only find a few references to it dating back to 2012.
Although Lita Sands helped develop the app with digital agency INVIVO Communications when she was global head of digital MCM at Novartis, she declined to comment since she left in February.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
In the email the spokeswoman said that the app had the potential to help with the biggest challenge with COPD: improving the patient-physician dialogue. “The patient-physician dialogue is sub-optimal and the compliance rate is very low (approximately 40 percent), leading to lack of engagement in managing their disease.”
The results from a pilot of 160 patients in Netherlands, Spain and Brazil sounds favorable though. According to some of the study findings, “the majority of the patients were highly engaged.” One-third of the participants checked in 25 consecutive days. 70 percent of participants said it gave them new health insights, according to its promotional video.
Considering Novartis’ collaboration with Qualcomm Ventures to invest in digital health tools announced earlier this year, I’m a little surprised on the decision to rule out any U.S. pilots at least. What’s even more surprising is that EyeForPharma saw fit to give the pharmaceutical company an award for this app at an annual conference in Philadelphia last month, despite the fact that it’s not even being tested in the U.S.
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
[Photo credit: Photo from flickr user Judean Peoples Front]
