Philips' new intelligent pill (iPill) technology has the
potential to take intelligent drug delivery to the next
level. As the first pill that combines technologies for
localized drug release with the ability to measure the
internal environment and communicate this information to the
outside world - without the need for large machines or
wires.
Philips Research has developed a pill (iPill) that has been
designed to be swallowed with food or water like a regular
pill. This iPill is more a drug-filled capsule that uses the
natural digestion process to reach the intestines and then
deliver treatment at a specific spot. Once there, iPill has
the technology on board to take specific internal
measurements, such as temperature and acidity levels, and
wirelessly transmit the data via a transceiver to an
external unit for the doctor to monitor.
Reducing side effects
Crohn's disease and colitis can be treated with drugs,
notably steroids, but many of these drugs have adverse and
unpleasant side effects for patients when administered
systemically as whole-body doses. However, by delivering the
required drugs directly to the site of the disease, dose
levels may be lowered and many of these side effects could
be reduced. With iPill, doctors may one day have the option
of delivering the much-needed treatment right to the problem
spot. iPill may even be helpful in treating colon cancer -
which affects nearly one million people a year worldwide -
in the same manner by releasing chemotherapy at the precise
site of disease.
Current status
Philips Research has constructed a prototype iPill capsule
and system. The design of iPill is suitable for serial
manufacturing. System functionality has been verified by
in-vitro testing. Successful programming, measurement, and
reporting functions were shown. Drug delivery was verified
with model drugs using dissolution apparatus test equipment.
The accuracy of the amount of drug dispensed versus time was
measured and found to be better than 0.8% (average deviation
over 0 - 95% volume dispensed).
"The combination of navigational feedback, electronically
controlled drug delivery and intestinal tract monitoring
promises to make iPill a valuable research tool for drug
development," notes drug-delivery expert Karsten Cremer of
Switzerland-based Pharma Concepts. "In particular, this
technology could potentially improve drug candidate
profiling and selection, which could ultimately accelerate
the development of new drugs."
