Study backs Closed Loop's drug+digital blood pressure plan

A smartphone app for monitoring blood pressure and medication use, developed by medtech firm Closed Loop Medicine, has shown proof-of-concept in an observational study.

The 389-subject Cure-19 trial – published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) – showed that the app allowed patients in a community setting to record their own blood pressure readings, with 84% of them consistently submitting data to their healthcare team over 12 weeks of follow-up.

The US study was run during COVID-19, when lockdowns limited access to healthcare, and also allowed the researchers to monitor symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Providing regular results via the app tracked with good control of blood pressure using antihypertensive drugs, according to the data, and the software also allowed patients to record their medication use and any side effects. It scored highly on user experience questionnaires.

The authors of the study concluded that remote monitoring using the app is feasible and "could be coupled with hypertensive medication in a combination product (drug+digital) for precision management of hypertension."

The result follows an earlier positive readout in the PERSONAL-CovidBP trial, which showed that Closed Loop's CL-HT01 software delivered improved blood pressure control and adherence to therapy, as well as reduced side effects, in patients using it to manage their antihypertensive drug treatment.

"Our ultimate goal is to deliver a drug+digital solution that patients not only find beneficial, but also offers them a highly positive user experience through which they will actively engage," commented Closed Loop's head of clinical development, Dr Mike Taylor.

He noted that the PERSONAL-CovidBP trial demonstrated that personalised dose adjustments were feasible with and delivered clinical benefits, while with CURE-19 the company is "encouraged to see further positive patient feedback and outcomes" with its digital approach.

Earlier this year, the UK subsidiary of pharma group Teva partnered with London, UK-based Closed Loop to use the medtech's software alongside its drug therapies for chronic diseases in order to deliver personalised treatment. It also joined forces with Pharmanovia to test its software with personalised dosing of ACE inhibitor lisinopril in the co-funded OptiZest study.

Closed Loop is also exploring the development of drug+digital approaches to weight management programmes, using GLP-1-acting drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), as well as insomnia and chronic pain.