Eli Lilly launches inflammatory bowel disease digital challenge

Eli Lilly is launching a challenge encouraging individuals and teams across the US to develop digital health solutions aimed at transforming inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care.

The challenge focuses on innovation in monitoring, condition management and care enhancements in IBD.

Lilly is looking for solutions based around innovative technologies and systems such as mobile apps, sensors and wearables, connected drug delivery devices, real-time monitoring, and digital games.

Submissions will be accepted until a minute before midnight, US Eastern Time, on 30th September this year.

A panel of judges from both within and outside of Lilly will evaluate all submissions in October and select five finalists by early November.

Finalists will be selected based on the idea’s impact, novelty, technical feasibility and ability to address long-term needs of people with IBD.

The finalist with the winning idea, will be announced in the final quarter of this year and will be awarded with the potential opportunity to co-develop the solution with Lilly.

Lilly is the latest big pharma to launch a digital innovation challenge at a time when there is an increasing focus on using the technology in tandem with other therapies to help treat and manage disease.

Other pharmas that are encouraging digital innovation include Novo Nordisk, Sandoz, Astellas, and Celgene, in a wide range of therapeutic areas.

Divakar Ramakrishnan, chief digital officer at Lilly, said: “Lilly is investing in digital solutions that can help empower people with chronic conditions, such as IBD, to better manage their own health. Innovation is happening everywhere, and this challenge is aimed at identifying bold ideas outside our walls and collaborating on ways to potentially deliver new solutions to those who need them most.

“Approximately three million Americans have reported being diagnosed with IBD, and Lilly is committed to tackling the challenge of this disease through science and innovation. We're looking for digital innovators to join us.”

Those interested can learn more and enter at www.medstro.com/challenges/TransformingIBD.