Did You Take Your Pill? Now There’s A Pill To Track That! (Video)

The FDA just approved a digital pill that tracks when you take it. Elizabeth Keatinge (@elizkeatinge) has more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a joint application by Proteus Digital Health and Otsuka Pharmaceutical for a medication monitoring tool for patients taking Otsuka’s drug Abilify. The drug is geared for people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and in some cases, depression.

Sensors, developed by Proteus Digital Health, are embedded in the pills and activated by stomach juices. The sensor transmits signals to a wearable with an electrode in the form of a skin patch. Data such as vital signs, body position, and verification of medication ingestion are wirelessly transmitted with the help of the wearable.

The FDA approval came with some caveats regarding the technology’s limitations, though. It noted that the ability of the sensors to track the patient’s compliance with their treatment regimen “has not been shown”.