German firm Gerresheimer and Finnish MedTech start-up Adamant Health Oy are developing personalised monitoring technology to improve the effectiveness of medication in managing Parkinson’s disease. A collaboration between the two firms is bringing together Adamant Health’s measurement and analysis technology with Gerresheimer’s digital platform to monitor people with Parkinson’s and alert them to the optimal time to take medication to suppress the symptoms before they become disruptive for the individual. The technology can also provide patients and medical staff with information on how the disease is being managed, and about any changes in medication that might be required.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder and causes reoccurring tremors, stiffness and slowing of movement. While it currently is incurable, medication can significantly alleviate symptoms. The disease affects approximately 10 million patients worldwide.

By partnering up, Gerresheimer and Adamant Health aim to fill a gap in the therapy of Parkinson’s patients. Current technologies used in monitoring Parkinson’s disease progression typically collects patient’s physical movement data. The sensor used in Adamant Health’s solution links this function with technology called surface electromyography (EMG), which is the local measurement of electrical neuromuscular activity.

Adamant Health is a start-up firm and a spinoff from the University of Eastern Finland. It aims at revolutionising Parkinson’s therapy based on 15 years of academic research expertise. The company applies scientific insights to the individual analysis of neuromuscular function and motion.

Gerresheimer has participated in the seed round at Adamant Health and is a major industry partner in this round.

Adamant Health’s technology is intended for wide use for the benefit of all people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, medication development as well as research. With the partnership, the aim is to combine this technology with personalised medical treatment solutions, such as the existing pump manufactured by Gerresheimer and beyond that make it accessible to all Parkinson patients. This allows the real-time collection and analysis of data and a precise and continuous drug application adjustment at home. A solution, which will significantly improve the lives of millions of affected people.

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the death of certain nerve cells in the brain. This leads to a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Among other things, dopamine plays a major role in controlling muscle function – and thus movement. The aim of drug treatment is to normalise the concentration of this neurotransmitter. To achieve this, the medication must be precisely set and adjusted at regular intervals. This is made possible by micropumps such as the D-Mine pump from Gerresheimer.

“Our common goal is to optimise the treatment of Parkinson’s and to improve the patient’s quality of life dramatically,” said Dietmar Siemssen, CEO Gerresheimer AG. “The investment is part of our strategic expansion into personalised drug delivery devices combined with platform-based and digital disease monitoring. It will also complement our high value solution offering for clients as defined in our strategy process formula G,” he added.

“We are expecting the number of people with Parkinson’s to more than double within the next 30 years,” said Paulus Carpelan, CEO Adamant Health Oy. “Our measurement and analysis service with its unique technologies aim to help individualising therapies and consequently to improve patients’ quality of life significantly,” he added.