Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole with sensor) for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia


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Therapeutic Areas: Mental and Behavioural Health
Year: 2020

Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole with sensor) is in clinical development for the treatment of adults with Bipolar Disorder (BP1) and Schizophrenia (SCH). BP1 is a mental health condition that causes high and low mood swings that go on for longer periods of time, compared to usual fluctuations in mood. SCH can result in a person having relapses into episodes of psychosis, which can include losing touch with reality through hallucinations and hearing voices. Anyone can develop these mental health conditions throughout their lifetime, however they are more common in young adults.

Abilify MyCite is a drug-device combination comprising aripiprazole embedded with an Ingestible Event Marker (IEM) sensor. The aripiprazole attaches in the brain to receptors which help normalise the activity of the brain. The drug is packaged within an innovative system which helps patients (and healthcare workers) monitor when the medication is taken through integration with a sensor patch and app. Abilify MyCite is different to other ways of monitoring whether medication has been taken because it gives results of the actual medication taken, without need for blood or urine samples, as opposed to an estimate and if licensed, will offer an additional treatment option for patients with BP1 and SCH.