Novatoris launches smartphone-based research into multiple sclerosis

Novatoruis is partnering with Sage Bionetworks to launch a large-scale multiple sclerosis study using data from smartphones.

The study, dubbed elevateMS, hopes to evaluate, in real time, the daily struggles faced by people living with MS.

The study will use an app to collect information about patient’s movement performance and symptoms from their smartphones.

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It is hoped that the results may help researchers develop new ways to measure treatment’s effectiveness.

Designed with input from patients, neurologists and disease advocates, the study’s mobile app was built on the Apple ResearchKit platform.

Beneficially, the mobile format eliminates the need for clinic visits which broadens the population that can participate. It’s an outcome that is already pushing some oncology companies to search for digital solutions of their own as fewer potential trial participants emerge.

In a statement, Dr Stanley Cohan, medical director of the Providence Multiple Sclerosis Centre in Oregon said: “As physicians, we always want to know how our patients with MS are doing on the treatments we prescribe.

“With the elevateMS app, study participants can frequently document their symptoms in a personal health story.

“In turn, this data may provide researchers with new ways to look at disease progression and treatment effectiveness.”

The study is entitled “Evaluation of Evidence from Smart Phone Sensors and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Participants with Multiple Sclerosis (elevateMS)