Roche has revealed its intentions to launch the CoaguChek Vantus system, a new self-testing device for Warfarin patients to monitor their INR or blood coagulation levels wirelessly using Bluetooth technology.
Image: CoaguChek Vantus system enables wireless reporting of INR results. Photo: courtesy of Roche Diagnostics.
According to the Swiss drugmaker, the CoaguChek Vantus system enables patients to either use their smartphone or tablet with a compatible app to share their results through wireless connectivity automatically to their healthcare providers.
This will help the healthcare providers to get their patient INR results rapidly and accurately, while also cutting down on their visits to the lab, said Roche.
Roche Diagnostics chief medical officer Alan Wright said: “As healthcare systems face continued pressure to deliver improved access to care at a lower cost, increased connectivity between healthcare providers and patients becomes even more important.
“This innovative technology sets the standard in coagulation monitoring by providing high quality, convenient testing, while optimizing the patient result reporting workflow.”
Roche said that self-testing offers patients tools and flexibility to be more involved in their therapy while supporting better compliance.
Additionally, the company said that self-testing can also aid patients stay connected with their doctor, who can access the results quickly after the patient’s self-test.
The CoaguChek Vantus system will have programmable test reminders for patients so that they will not forget monitoring their INR or blood coagulation levels on a regular basis.
Roche is looking to launch CoaguChek Vantus system in the US in the summer of 2018.
Its diagnostics arm – Roche Diagnostics in 2016 had launched the CoaguChek INRange system, a similar product as the CoaguChek Vantus system across various European countries for self-measurement of blood coagulation levels.
While CoaguChek Vantus system will only show blood coagulation levels in INR, the CoaguChek INRange has the capability to show test results as INR, PT seconds or precentage quick.
Roche has been looking to expand in the digital health segment. As part of it, the Swiss pharma company had acquired Flatiron Health, a healthcare technology and services firm for $1.9bn.