Digital pills got a step closer to becoming reality this week after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted an application for approval of the first such pill, Financial Times reports. Produced by Proteus Digital Health, the pill aims to help patients abide their prescription schedules to reduce spending on pharmaceuticals that are not taken properly—a problem patients suffering from mental illness and Alzheimer’s often experience. Digital health companies have already garnered $2.8 billion in investment this year, and $6.9 billion in 2014. Proteus CEO Andrew Thompson said, “This is the opening of a new regulatory pathway that allows the pharmaceutical industry to combine its medical innovation with innovation in software.” (Registration may be required to access this story.) Editor’s Note: The Privacy.Security.Risk. conference, Sept. 30-Oct 1, in Las Vegas, features a pre-conference workshop on emerging technologies in the healthcare field.
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