The University of Florida News reports that researchers at the University have invented a smart pill that can alert a patient’s physician or family member/caregiver when the patient has taken a medication.  The pill could also alert the scientist who is working with the patient in a clinical drug trial so he knows that the patient is following the "rules" of the trial.      

This so-called “tattletale pill” is in standard capsule form with a tiny microchip and a digestible antenna added to it.  When a patient takes the pill, it signals a 2nd element in the system – a small electronic device carried or worn by the patient, which in turn signals a cell phone or laptop computer that the patient has swallowed the pill.   The patient’s stomach acid then breaks down the antenna and the microchip passes harmlessly through the gastrointestinal tract but not before, as the article says, “the pill confirms its own ingestion”.   The researchers have simulated the stomach acid break-down of the antenna to see what traces it leaves behind – silver, in a non-toxic level, in such a small amount that it is less than the amount in regular tap water.  They are presently working on a research paper about their invention and have also applied for a patent.  One of the researchers, Rizwan Bashirullah, Assistant  Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, said that a University of Florida spinoff company is developing the next generation of the pill system which is the system that will be submitted to the FDA for testing.  Commercial development will follow FDA approval.   

The research was funded by grants totaling about $700,000 from the National Science Foundation, Convergent Engineering (the “spinoff company”?), and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. 

When I first read this article my initial reaction was cool but icky and then I thought about it.  As the article points out, many patients forget, refuse, or “bungle” the job of taking their medication.  “This causes or exacerbates medical problems, spurs hospitalizations or expensive medical procedures, and undercuts clinical trials of new drugs.”  How can a doctor be expected to effectively  treat his patient if his patient is not taking his prescribed medication at all or not taking it correctly?  If the patient is elderly, incompetent, or suffering from a mental health disorder, why shouldn’t his caregiver have a way to ensure that his “charge” is taking his medication?  But then again, the use of the “tattletale” device (or one might say “spy” device) brings up some privacy issues - if the patient doesn’t want to take his medication, takes it every other day instead of every day to save money, or otherwise purposely thwarts the prescription plan that his doctor has set up for him, is it anybody else’s business but his own (assuming that he is physically and mentally competent)?  On the other side of that, the patient may realize that he is forgetful, want to fully comply with his prescription regimen, and welcome the use of the pill to confirm to him that yes, he has taken his medicine.  Lots of issues involved with the use of one tiny pill! 

As one can imagine, it will be awhile before the pill system  is available on the market.  First, the next version of it must be developed, then it must be submitted to the FDA for approval, go through the approval process, and then be commercially mass-produced.   Hopefully, mass production will keep the pill system affordable for all.  And then there is the  hurdle of getting the patient/caregiver past the ick factor and into the cool factor – accepting and wanting to use the pill.  Stay tuned, it should be interesting!