Scientists test device to track medication adherence in patients wit...(mical elements of the adherence system w...)

Date:4/21/2008

mical elements of the adherence system work as predicted. We were able to conclusively show who swallowed the capsules containing the 2-butanol. With further optimization, we are optimistic the device will perform very well, said Donn Dennis, M.D., the Joachim S. Gravenstein professor of anesthesiology at the UF College of Medicine and an investigator in the study.

The researchers say the device may prove equally helpful for monitoring adherence in clinical trials.

If you enroll HIV/AIDS patients in a clinical trial and they dont take the medication, then you may not get adequate proof that the drug is effective, Melker said. It might be effective, but some of the patients arent taking it.

Phase 2 trials are often conducted in the community, rather than at research institutions, making it difficult for researchers to monitor adherence. As a result, many trials enroll a larger group of subjects than needed, in hopes theyll obtain enough data to determine the safety and efficacy of the medication.

If we had a good way of doing DOT thats realistic, instead of having someone come to your house or you going to clinic every day of your life, then we would know whether these people stopped taking their medication and why. Right now, nobody knows any of that. Melker said. The implications of being able to understand what normal human behavior is in a clinical trial and, of course, in the real world, are huge.

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Contact: Ann Griswold anngriswold@gmail.com 352-273-5819 University of Florida Source:Eurekalert

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