Cambridge Cognition Holdings plc (LON:COG) has teamed up with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd to pilot the use of an Apple Watch app that monitors patients with major depression disorder.
Cognition Kit Limited, a joint venture between Cambridge Cognition and Ctrl Group Ltd, has partnered with Takeda’s US subsidiary to test the use of the app.
The Cognition Kit app will assess the pattern of cognitive symptoms of depression.
A study will be conducted on the app, involving 30 participants aged 18 to 65 who have been prescribed antidepressants for clinical diagnosis of mild to moderate depression.
Cambridge Cognition said the study will evaluate feasibility, compliance and aim to understand how measures of mood and cognition on wearable technology compare to more traditional neuropsychological testing and patient reported assessments.
The results of the study are expected in the first half of 2017.
"By combining wearable technology with world leading neuroscience, we've created an app that collects real time passive and active high-frequency mental health data," said Jenny Barnett, chief scientific officer of Cambridge Cognition.
"Being able to access data regularly from daily life can help clinical decision making. Healthcare professionals can obtain patient data and increase patient engagement in their treatment."
Cambridge Cognition said the collaboration marks the first contract signed by Cognition Kit since launching its wearable technology in 2016.
Shares rose 9.68% to 85.0p in early trading.