Pill that texts trialled in UK

A smart pill that can text a patient’s mobile phone if they forget to take their medication is to be trialled in the UK.

The Raisin system has been developed by California-based company, Proteus Biomedical, and is made from digestible sensors that are activated by the stomach fluids.

Once activated, the sensor sends a low-power digital signal through to a patch on the patient's shoulder, which then decodes and records the information before sending it over a phone connection.

The pill will be trialed with 40 patients at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. If successful, it will be followed up with a year long trial.

Professor Nicholas Peters, professor of cardiology at Imperial, said the main aim is to encourage people to take their pills routinely which should result in fewer admissions to hospital.

“The concept behind the technology is that the information belongs to the patient, who will be able to see the benefits of their medication in a number of measures. It will encourage people to look after their own health,” Professor Peters added.

Proteus and its partners are currently developing these integrated product systems in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, organ transplantation and infectious disease.

The pill already has the ability to monitor heart rate, activity and sleep patterns, which often signal a change in a patient’s condition.

The company has received CE Mark approval, which will allow it to begin trials over the product for four months.

Andrew Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Proteus, said: “CE Mark approval represents a significant achievement for Proteus, and a major milestone for the advancement of intelligent medicine.

“As we commercialise our products and empower patients and their families we will begin to realise the potential of a more connected, pervasive and personalised standard of care that promotes better access, higher value for money and more sustainable innovation models.”