Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, known in the U.S. as EMD Serono, has selected PRA Health Sciences’ remote patient monitoring platform to work in combination with its human growth hormone (HGH) treatment system. Under this agreement, PRA’s remote patient monitoring platform backs Merck KGaA’s HGH treatment system, including growlinkTM, a mobile app for patients prescribed with HGH treatment, and easypod? Connect, a secure platform for healthcare professionals (HCP) in the field of endocrinology to monitor patients’ adherence, review injection history, and share information about patients’ progression with growth hormone disorder.

Despite the prevalence of growth hormone deficiency and treatment options, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring patient adherence. Adding this layer of technology to HGH treatments aims to facilitate better patient engagement, help HCPs make better use of patient visits, and ensure the treatment is taken regularly and at the right dosage.

The four-part system – Merck KGaA’s mobile app (growlink), connected device (easypod), and HCP platform (easypod Connect ) along with PRA’s remote patient monitoring technology, enables HCPs to see a picture of patients’ adherence, height, weight, and other outcomes while offering patients a more convenient way to follow to their treatment regimen.

“Patients and payers expect us to offer new technologies, such as treatment-supporting apps, with the highest levels of privacy and data security,” said Andre Musto, Senior Vice President and Head of Cardiovascular Metabolism & Endocrinology, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “With growlink and easypod Connect, supported by PRA’s remote patient monitoring platform, we can offer patients innovative tools to help manage their condition and assure payers of the effective use of treatments while fully respecting their privacy and data security.”