Digital respiratory health company Propeller Health is expanding its geographical footprint to Japan thanks to a partnership with pharma giant Novartis. 

Patients living in Japan who take one of Novartis’ drugs to help with uncontrolled asthma, the Enerzair or Atectura Breezhaler, will be able to enroll in Propeller’s digital-management program. 

Those that opt in can attach the Propeller’s sensor to the end of their inhaler. Data about medication usage will then be sent to users’ smartphones. The Propeller app will also be able to give patients reminders about taking their medication and data about their medication usage over time. 

The program is slated to launch in the late August to early September time frame.

WHY IT MATTERS

Propeller is quickly expanding its international footprint. This deal marks Propeller’s first program launch in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to this, the digital health company already had programs in Europe and North America.

The international market may be ripe for expansion as rates of asthma are on the rise. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that 339 million people globally have the disease. 

“We are thrilled to bring the Propeller platform to Japan and introduce digital health for asthma to a large population of patients who can benefit from better management,” said David Van Sickle, cofounder and CEO of Propeller Health. “This collaboration is an important step in improving outcomes for people with chronic respiratory disease worldwide.”

THE LARGER TREND 

This isn’t the first time that Propeller and Novartis have joined forced. In fact, in July the pair teamed up to co-package Propeller’s digital health platform with Novartis' new asthma medication, the Enerzair Breezhaler. The product is set to be launched exclusively in the European Union in 2020. 

Additionally, back in 2017, the two announced a collaboration to develop a custom add-on sensor for Novartis’ Breezhaler inhaler, which is used for Novartis’s portfolio of COPD treatments.