FIRST: Lupin launches Adhero, smart device to support treatment of respiratory disease in India

Mumbai: Pharma major Lupin Limited (Lupin) recently announced the launch of “ADHERO,” a new connected smart device for metered-dose inhalers. This first-of-its-kind device is designed to help patients with chronic respiratory diseases track their MDI usage and facilitate improved adherence to therapy.

Inhalers are the preferred treatment option for managing the rising incidence of Chronic respiratory diseases like Asthma and COPD in India. However, it is estimated that nearly 45 per cent patients do not adhere to therapy (in terms of filling/refilling prescriptions or maintaining prescribed medication schedule), which adversely impacts clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. The new device, ADHERO, is designed to improve patient adherence to therapy.

Lupin has collaborated with Aptar Pharma, a leading provider of drug delivery devices, components and services in bringing this first in a class device to market.

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ADHERO is a blue tooth-enabled, reusable smart device which attaches to the top of a MDI. With built-in sensors, the device tracks the patient’s daily medication usage and consumption patterns. Patients can access this information by connecting their ADHERO device to the “MyAdhero” app on their smartphones. The app is also equipped to send reminders, provide contextual health alerts based on factors like Air Quality Index (AQI) at the patient’s current location and enable visual analytics. Physicians too can access patient-related information and medication tracking data through the patient dashboard portal as well as through the app.

Speaking on the launch, Rajeev Sibal, President India Region Formulations, Lupin Limited, said, “Lupin lays great emphasis on three aspects of Respiratory Medicine, namely Disease Awareness, Diagnosis and Adherence. The launch of ADHERO will be a great help to patients using metered dose inhalers, as well as, for Doctors to track adherence and compliance to therapy, thereby improving clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients.”

Lupin has always leveraged advanced technologies to support the treatment and awareness of medical conditions and this launch is a major stride in this direction. Last year Lupin launched Anya, an artificial intelligence-powered health chatbot hosted on Facebook Messenger to raise health awareness and help patients get medically verified responses to their disease and treatment-related queries. Originally configured to respond to diabetes and tuberculosis related queries, Anya now features enhanced capabilities of answering queries on Respiratory ailments like COPD and Asthma, amongst others. Patients can simply search @askanyabot on Facebook Messenger to connect.

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