GSK Partners with Apple's ResearchKit to Pioneer Personalized Drug Development

According to the latest news from Firstword Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Purdue Pharma will apply Apple’s ResearchKit framework to drug development, marking the first time major pharmaceutical companies have used health apps for drug research and development.

ResearchKit is a new application developed by Apple Inc. in March this year. By allowing users to upload data through Apple’s apps, it helps doctors and scientists conduct more precise medical and health research. Currently, there are six apps covering diseases in areas such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other fields.

GSK stated in its announcement that its primary focus in the coming months will be on integrating ResearchKit data into clinical trials, making this collaboration with Apple an optimal opportunity for major pharmaceutical companies to collect patient data.

In addition, Larry Pickett, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Purdue Pharma, known for its OxyContin analgesic, stated that the company is seeking to apply this tool to data collection in research and development. Undoubtedly, the impact of technology on healthcare is becoming increasingly significant; however, it remains unclear precisely how technology influences healthcare. There has been ongoing debate regarding the impact of big medical data on pharmaceutical companies and how to leverage informational data advantages. Rather than engaging in continuous discussion, it is more prudent to expedite practical implementation and draw conclusions from practice.

Industry experts believe that collaborations between GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Purdue Pharma with Apple’s ResearchKit could facilitate personalized drug research. ResearchKit is an open-source software platform that helps scientists collect medical data from iPhone users. Apple states that it has opened up new frontiers in reaching diverse populations worldwide and collecting data.

Beyond collaborations with Apple, partnerships between major pharmaceutical companies and genetic technology firms have also become a notable trend. For instance, earlier this year, Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche, exchanged $60 million for genetic testing data from 80,000 Parkinson’s disease patients held by 23andMe. Subsequently, Pfizer also entered into a collaboration with 23andMe. (Bioon.com)