Researchers in the US have developed a pill in pigs that sends a signal when it’s swallowed and could help doctors monitor if patients take their pills according to their prescription. 

Patients often miss their pills or stop treatments early, which is a widespread healthcare problem. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a biodegradable coat that can be applied to pills and send a signal after ingestion.  

When they tested the pill in pigs, due to their size being similar to humans, the researchers confirmed that, around 10 minutes after ingestion, the coating around the pill is degraded, releasing a safe radio signal that is recorded by a receiver outside the body (up to 60 cm away).  

Next, preclinical studies will apply the system to medications for transplantation patients, since missing medication in these cases can quickly lead to organ rejection. “The goal is to make sure that this helps people receive the therapy they need to help maximize their health,” said Giovanni Traverso, from MIT and leader of the study published in Nature Communications. 

The plan is for this system to be applied in humans paired with a wearable device that would send the data directly to their healthcare providers.