New iPill can precisely deliver payload in the gut

Philips Research has developed a new "intelligent pill" that can be programmed to precisely release medications at a particular spot in the intestinal tract. The iPill can determine its location by reading the acidity level in the tract. The gut becomes progressively less acidic as you move downward from the upper intestine.

According to a report in Healthcare IT News, a microprocessor controlled pump releases meds at a predetermined spot in the intestine. And that could accelerate new therapies for Crohn's disease, colitis and colon cancer.

"The combination of navigational feedback, electronically-controlled drug delivery and monitoring of the intestinal tract promises to make iPill technology a valuable research tool for drug development," said Karsten Cremer of Pharma Concepts. "In particular, I recognize the potential of this technology to improve drug candidate profiling and selection, which could ultimately accelerate the development of new drugs."

- read the article from Healthcare IT News