The technology platform intends to improve understanding of disease progression and impact of treatment by continuously monitoring and analyzing crucial symptoms that affect daily living.

Teva will deploy the platform as part of an ongoing phase 2 Open-Pride HD trial.

Patients will be allowed to use a smartphone and wear a smartwatch that features sensing technology for measuring their general functioning and movement.

The data from the devices will then be wirelessly streamed to a cloud-based platform, developed by Intel, that will translate it, in near real-time, into scores to assess motor symptom severity.

The collaboration will use Intel's capabilities in analytics and algorithm development for movement detection, together with Teva's expertise in HD treatment and research.

Teva global R&D president and chief scientific officer Michael Hayden said: "The aim of this important project is to provide continuous objective data on the impact of Huntington disease on the patient, and, by extension, a clear understanding of the impact of treatment on patients' quality of life.

"Current measurement of symptoms is largely based on observation when the patient sees the doctor. This technology now provides us with an opportunity to have continuous monitoring. This unique technology could complement future trials in HD."

The open-source Intel Trusted Analytics Platform is being used in the development of the cloud-based solution to analyze wearable device data.

Initial development was carried out in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for use in Parkinson's disease research.

Image: Teva in Markham, Ontario. Photo: courtesy of Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine.