TTA Archives 2005-2012

Wall Street Journal:  We’ve all been fond of categorizing medication dispensers and medminders, no matter how sophisticated, with the qualifier that there is no real way to determine whether the meds have actually been taken by the patient.  Now, there may be a way.  Novartis and Proteus Biomedical are partnering to test a small subject group taking Diovan blood pressure medication, inserting microchips in the pills.  Non-compliance creates a text message.   Early results indicate increased compliance.  If this becomes widespread, we may be worrying about the long-term side effects of ingesting microchips.  “Sometimes, new technology is both creepy and common sense.”