Cancers begin as the uncontrollable mitotic growth of cells. Historically, various modi operandi have been used to target these tumors. Nearly two million cancer diagnoses are made every year, and about 600,000 people die from cancer in the United States alone. This reminds us to strengthen in our actions against this disease. Among the methods used to target these cancerous cells today include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Recently, a ‘digital pill’ has been introduced with potential to radically change the way we look at these methods.

Developed in a Silicon Valley company, these digital pills are not your regular chemotherapy pills. What makes them special is the special sensor inside - enabling caregivers, pharmacists and doctors to keep track each time a pill has been swallowed. The goal is to improve health outcomes in respect to medication adherence, making sure that a patient is not forgetting to take his or her medications. According to a CVS Report on Medication Adherence, about 75% of adults are non-adherent when it comes to taking their medications on time.

Patients swallow the pill just like they’re supposed to. When the pill makes contact with the stomach, it becomes wet, ‘pinging’ signals to a patch that patients are asked to wear on their torso. The name, size and time of the dose is sent to the patient’s online portal. Patients can then chose to share this data with their ‘support-team’. For as dangerous a disease as cancer, this may just be the key to better results.

Proteus, the company responsible for these pills, has also been planning sensor pills for other diseases - such as tuberculosis and diabetes. One of their drugs, for those battling schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has already been approved by the FDA. This certainly shows headway in the methods by which we may accurately and precisely treat many medical missions.

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Works Cited:

https://www.statnews.com/2019/01/17/a-digital-pill-for-cancer-patients-is-rolled-out-for-the-first-time-in-hopes-of-improving-outcomes/