Propeller Health is teaming up with Medical International Research to integrate a number of MIR’s mobile and clinical spirometers into its digital respiratory disease management platform.
Propeller’s system includes a sensor that attaches to a range of different inhalers to track when, where and why patients take their medication. This information is communicated via Bluetooth to a smartphone app, which uses machine learning to help patients and physicians manage respiratory disease. Integrating spirometers into the system would allow physicians to see spirometry data alongside this information, making it easier for them to check if a patient with asthma or COPD is responding to treatment.
“Periodic assessment can be helpful in monitoring whether treatment is truly controlling symptoms and improving quality of life,” said Propeller CEO David Van Sickle in the statement. “These next-generation, mobile spirometers make it possible for patients to better understand their lung function at home and in the community.”
Spirometry is already used to monitor respiratory disease patients and assess whether their disease is progressing or if their treatment is working. The integration of “several” MIR spirometers into Propeller’s platform will allow for the automatic transmission of data from these devices to the platform. Healthcare providers and pharma partners that use Propeller may now include MIR spirometers in their treatment programs, the company said in the statement.
Propeller has inked no fewer than 45 commercial partnerships around its system in the U.S. One of its partners is GlaxoSmithKline: the pair teamed up last December to develop a custom sensor for the British pharma’s Ellipta inhaler. The FDA cleared the use of Propeller’s tech with Ellipta last month. In February, Propeller joined forces with Aptar Pharma to develop a "smart inhaler," where the sensors are integrated into the device rather than being an add-on. And, having bagged a $21.5 million Series C in October, Propeller is planning on adding yet more pharma and commercial partnerships to its stable.