Mortality Gap Growing, New Cancer Therapies Have Limited Effect, GSK Uses IoT to Improve Adherence

The White American Mortality Gap is Growing

New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this month showed that Americans’ life expectancy fell from 2014 to 2015, from 78.9 years to 78.8 years.

As the new CDC data show, drugs, alcohol, and suicide accounted for only about 30 percent of the overall rise in mortality from 2014 to 2015.1 Death rates also rose for eight of the top 10 causes of death—including heart disease, America’s number-one killer. “Deaths by despair” simply aren’t enough to tell the whole story. More here... https://sco.lt/5eroP3

Further Reading:

•  The Awful U.S. Life Expectancy Despite Awesome Dollars Spent on Healthcare!; https://sco.lt/4ut8JF
•  Disparity in Life Spans of Rich vs Poor More Than Doubled Since 70s; https://sco.lt/5KxYq9
•  "Innovative Cancer Medicines Have Led to Increased Survival Rates & Higher Life Expectancy" says PhRMA; https://sco.lt/4n1y5Z

New Cancer Drugs Have Limited Efficacy Extending Survival by Only 3.5 Months on Average

Drugs recently approved around the world to fight cancer increased patients' overall survival, but benefits vary depending on the drug, a new study shows. Researchers looked at the 62 cancer drugs approved in the U.S. and Europe between 2003 and 2013 and found they extended survival by an average of about 3.5 months. More here... https://sco.lt/5ySRYf

Further Reading:

•  Oncologists Say Cancer Drug Advertising Fosters Misinterpretation of Efficacy by Patients; https://sco.lt/8Imgdd
•  Meanwhile other Oncologists Are Not Concerned About DTC ‘Over Promising’ Efficacy; https://sco.lt/6BEXT7
•  Rosy Oncology Drug Outlook for Years & Years to Come; https://sco.lt/8ZTgC9

 GSK Propels Ahead by Targeting COPD Adherence with IoT Inhaler

Trial participants will use inhalers with clip-on sensors, which the firm hopes will provide real-time data that can be used to improve the patient experience. Using Bluetooth to relay insights to GSK's trial database, the sensor tracks how often patients take their medication and documents any obstructions that prevent patients from using the inhaler.

GSK first teamed up with digital company Propeller Health in 2015 to develop the sensor, which was approved by the FDA as a companion device for its Ellipta treatment in November last year.

The company hopes that remote monitoring will encourage people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to get more involved in self-managing their condition, with real-time data enabling greater flexibility in meeting with medical professionals. More here... https://sco.lt/8vnt8z

Further Reading:

•  GSK, AZ, BI & Novartis Race to Launch Io(Medical)T Smart Inhalers to Improve Adherence; https://sco.lt/7PjHDl
•  Boehringer pilots inhalers with sensors to encourage patient adherence; https://sco.lt/5uj35N
•  Partnerships Between #BigPharma and Mobile mHealth Device Makers on the Rise; https://sco.lt/6ZfgTR
•  Boehringer to Fund Commercialization of Propeller’s Digital Platform for Ashma, COPD; https://sco.lt/5tKLtB
•  Breezhaler: an IoT Inhaler Device for COPD Patients Developed by Novartis; https://sco.lt/4vitI9