SAN MATEO, Calif., May 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In conjunction with World Asthma Day, Adherium (ASX:ADR), a digital health company that improves medication adherence and patient outcomes, announced today it has agreed to launch a program with Vitalus Health, targeting patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the Adherium Smartinhaler technology. Vitalus Health is a leading provider of comprehensive health and wellness solutions that focus on pulmonary disease management throughout the southwest region of the United States. Under the terms of the program, Vitalus Health’s network of lung specialists will promote patient usage of Adherium’s Smartinhaler technology, which will further support Vitalus Health’s efforts to achieve impactful results throughout the patient-care spectrum while reducing healthcare costs.
“We’re delighted to commence this relationship with Vitalus. Establishing relationships with leading healthcare providers focused on improved patient care through better compliance is a key component of our strategy in the U.S,” said Arik Anderson, CEO of Adherium. “Clinical results and patient usage to date have clearly demonstrated the benefit of adherence to disease management, patient outcomes, and reduced costs to the healthcare system.”
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Vitalus Health provides specialty lung disease management, comprehensive sleep diagnostic solutions, PAP therapy, and EEG testing. Vitalus Health offers chronic care and regional population health solutions, while endeavoring to improve patient outcomes and chronic care costs through total engagement and increased compliance.
“Our company is focused on making disease management easy and smart,” said Vitalus Health's CEO K. Cody Patel. “Our philosophy of ‘breathe well, sleep well, be well’ is at the core of our forward-thinking care management programs in the areas of sleep, neuro-diagnostics, breathing, and home health. We’ve selected Adherium as our respiratory partner because its adherence technology fits naturally within our practice and allows us to continue to make care, and the independence of our patients, seamless.”
The Adherium Smartinhaler sensor is a device installed onto a patient’s inhaler to monitor and promote asthma and COPD medication adherence as part of a self-management plan. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) clearance for the Smartinhaler for use with AstraZeneca’s Symbicort® aerosol asthma inhaler in September 2017 and for over-the-counter (OTC) sales in March 2018.
“Vitalus Health and Adherium share a vision for stronger association between patients and physicians by making adherence to personal management plans easier,” said Anderson. “Together we will provide clinically-proven monitoring to support patients in adopting their physicians’ guidance into their daily lives.”
The next generation Smartinhaler sensor records the date and precise time the inhaler is used and automatically transmits this to an app on the patient’s phone or tablet. Smartinhaler technology stores the history of patient medication usage patterns, allowing physicians to review and help make evidence-based decisions. The sensor design includes three buttons that help patients easily access the audio visual-reminders, battery monitoring, and Bluetooth® wireless technology.
About Adherium
Adherium is a provider of digital health solutions and a global leader in connected respiratory medical devices, with over 100,000 distributed globally. The Company develops, manufactures and supplies patients, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers and contract research organizations with the broadest range of connected medical devices for respiratory medications. The devices and accompanying technology address sub-optimal medication use and strive to improve health outcomes in chronic disease. Adherium is headquartered in the USA, and operates globally from bases in the USA, Europe and Australasia. Learn more at adherium.com.
Inquiries
Vik Panda, Adherium
Email: vikp@adherium.com
Armen Allahverdian, Vitalus Health
Email: armen.allahverdian@vitalushealth.com
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Chris Gale, Greentarget
Phone: 646.695.2883
Email: cgale@greentarget.com
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Leigh Salvo, Gilmartin Group
Phone: 415.937.5404
Email: leigh@gilmartinir.com