Propeller Health, Boehringer Ingelheim team-up to improve for asthma and COPD patients

Propeller Health

Propeller Health and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals are teaming-up to use digital health tools and services to help people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma better manage their disease.

Under the deal, patients who are being treated with a Boehringer Ingelheim prescription medication approved for use in the company’s RESPIMAT inhaler, will have the opportunity to enroll at select U.S. health systems in a new program that is looking to determine how Propeller’s hi-tech tool for the RESPIMAT inhaler can impact adherence rates and patient engagement.

Cleared in March of last year by FDA, said tool uses a combination of inhaler sensors, apps, analytics, personal feedback and education. The platform passively tracks how and when each patient uses their inhaled medications, and can send alerts to patients and their caregivers. Propeller creates a custom view for each patient, allowing them to better understand the impact and management of their disease in daily life.

“We are excited to work with Boehringer Ingelheim to bring Propeller to people with asthma and COPD at health systems across the U.S.,” David Van Sickle, CEO of Propeller, said in a statement. “Together, we believe that digital tools can complement the use of respiratory medications and encourage more appropriate and effective management of chronic respiratory disease.”

Propeller has been used by people with respiratory diseases in over 40 commercial programs across the U.S., including major healthcare systems, payers, employers and other organizations. It is compatible with the majority of commonly used asthma and COPD inhaler devices including controller and reliever metered dose inhalers (MDIs), and other inhaler devices.

According to CrunchBase, Propeller Health has raised $26.46 million to date, including its most recent Series B round worth $14.5 million in September 2014.