Boehringer Ingelheim has signed a contract with the US-based digital health management company, Healthrageous Inc. The contract is signed for future patients with certain diseases, especially chronic ones, should be treated in a more holistic approach beyond drug treatment only.

Both companies will evaluate in a pilot study a lifestyle behavior modification programme to improve the health status of people with diabetes Type 2. Study participants will experience a digital technology intervention combining digital coaching and a wireless glucose meter transmitting data to clinical monitors. The Internet-based tool will allow an evaluation of the intervention on changes in lifestyle behaviours, glucose control, additional medical parameters and medication adherence.

“Boehringer Ingelheim is known for innovation in research and development and for bringing high quality medications quickly to the market. But we are also committed to a "beyond pill" approach in health care. We have to pursue a new approach to see the patient with all his or her aspirations but also limitations. We need to find suitable answers that will benefit not only the patients and their family but also the whole society in so far that healthier patients lead a more satisfactory life and can contribute to society for longer.” said Bert Tjeenk-Willink, Member of the Board of Managing Directors of Boehringer Ingelheim. “This first initiative offering a comprehensive digital platform for Type 2 diabetes will help us to better understand what motivates individuals to become and remain engaged in self-managing their health. We are delighted to be working with Healthrageous here. Boehringer Ingelheim will engage in many more initiatives of that kind.”

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 per cent of all diabetes cases. The number is expected to grow considerably in the next years due to unhealthy lifestyles. Conclusions from findings in Behavioural Science show that in most chronic medical conditions and diseases such as diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or high blood pressure interventions with respect to drug adherence, lifestyle changes in nutrition, physical exercises, stress reduction and can bring about measureable improvements. The most important aspect, however, is that the patient sticks to a chosen regimen and properly manages his/her lifestyle change.

The goal of the new diabetes programme is to leverage technology in a way that makes the personalized journey of self-managing diabetes easier and more effective. During the collaboration, in a first phase 200 adults in the US diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes for at least six months will have access to Healthrageous’ digital diabetes self-management programme. The web and smartphone delivered programme will include a personalized action plan with health behaviour improvement goals, biometric feedback to demonstrate goal achievement and milestones, digital coach interaction, recognition and incentives for progress, supply and strip refill ordering, medication reminders, and social networking support. If the results show the expected benefits, the programme will be expanded to encompass up to one thousand patients in different countries.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. The company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.