Elizabeth Quist
Director, Specialty Market Access
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Jonathan Israel
Senior Manager, Access & Reimbursement
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Wearable Device Pioneers
Jonathan Israel and Beth Quist are responsible for developing a novel digital solution, iBData wearable technology, to support patients and physicians in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Internally, a program like this had never been executed at Takeda.
The app is designed to assist IBD patients with tracking their systems and lifestyle factors. The program was also built with HCPs’ needs in mind. Jonathan and Beth worked closely with IBD experts to prioritize what symptoms and metrics the experts’ rely on to assess how patients are managing their disease. But for users, the key was developing something available on wearable technology like the Apple Watch, instead of only having to use the app on their smartphones.
“Research on consumer mobile engagement shows high rates of attrition with apps and across many categories,” Beth explains. “Many reasons exist for consumers no longer using an app: A new or better one is designed, it gets too cumbersome to use, or interest just fizzles out. Wearable devices, however, could help to maintain engagement and ultimately result in more data and information exchanged between the patient and their HCP.”
The original pilot program rolled out in September 2016 in partnership with Texas Digestive Disease Consultants and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to approximately 100 patients. So far, the initial feedback from the program has been very positive.
“HCPs are checking the information daily and using the program as part of their clinical discussion with patients,” Jonathan says. “Our pilot centers are incredible partners in this process and they are really enjoying the ability to inform future design and areas to enhance the program. They’re asking for more patients to enroll!”
Currently, Takeda is looking at different ways to evolve this program following the pilot phase, which is still ongoing. While they can’t share exactly what is on the horizon for iBData, Beth adds that Takeda’s CEO Christoph Weber is a big proponent of innovation and technology and similar initiatives are now taking place in various different teams at the company in the U.S. as well as globally.
