LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland launches the next generation of INR patient self-monitoring meter for patients on warfarin anticoagulant therapy. The new CoaguChek INRange meter allows patients to send their results to their clinic via an App on their phone using wireless connectivity.
This innovation helps to empower patients to take control of their therapy and reduce the number of clinic visits that they have to make, saving both time and money.
Today’s launch of the new CoaguChek INRange meter coincides with the publication of a new patient survey carried out by the Atrial Fibrillation Association. Results showed that of those patients currently on warfarin surveyed, 86% of patients agreed that they would consider patient self-monitoring to give them a life free from frequent clinic visits as they could quickly and easily send results to their healthcare professional. With the CoaguChek INRange meter, important reminders can be set up for events such as when to test or when to take medication. Comments can be added to specific results and these can be displayed in graphs, allowing patients to see how many of their results fall within their target therapeutic range.
Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and CEO of the Atrial Fibrillation Association, said, “The AF Assoc. welcomes the launch of the INRange meter that can be a future-proof solution to the needs of patients on warfarin. The results of the survey showed that nearly 80% of patients would want to self-monitor giving them independence when travelling for work or pleasure”.
Pierre Hazlewood, Director of Point of Care, commented, “Our new meter further supports patient self-monitoring by encouraging healthcare professionals and patient dialogue via digital connectivity and App options. It also meets the needs of patients with new features and improved functionality including adding comments to a result, setting reminders and plotting results in graphs.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
Anticoagulation drugs affect the blood’s ability to clot, it is important that the right dose is maintained to reduce the risk of severe bleeding or complications. The new CoaguChek INRange meter will help monitor these doses, reducing clinic visits.
It is estimated that just a 5% improvement in TTR across UK anticoagulation clinics would prevent 400 – 500 strokes per year1. Furthermore if 10% of the current 950,000 patients switched to point of care devices, the NHS could save over £11.2million per year2
The purpose of the survey was to help discover patient needs about INR self-monitoring versus clinic visits. The benefits are reinforced in the 2014 NICE guidance on INR self-monitoring3. The development and distribution of the AF Assoc survey was funded by Roche. Roche have not been involved in creating the content of the survey.
B-roll and images are available from: coaguchek@theprnetwork.co.uk
ABOUT ROCHE
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.
Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.
Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Twenty-nine medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, anti-malarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognised as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry eight years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).
The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2016 employed more than 94,000 people worldwide. In 2016, Roche invested CHF 9.9 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 50.6 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com.
CoaguChek and INRange are trademarks of Roche. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2017 Roche Diagnostics Limited, All rights reserved.
References
1. Connolly SJ, Circulation 2008;118:2029-2037
2. Craig J et al, Journal of Medical Economics 2014
3. NICE Diagnostics guidance [DG14] September 2014
The PR Network
Tanya von Ahlefeldt
T: +44 (0)20 7470 8801
E: coaguchek@theprnetwork.co.uk
