Therapeutic Adherence: Cinfa’s initiative at the UNAV Hackathon

On 2 September, Cinfa took part in a hackathon organised in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Navarra (UNAV). The event, which brought together 125 students, aimed to explore innovative solutions to improve therapeutic adherence, a key factor in enhancing patients’ quality of life.

The challenge of non-adherence

Therapeutic adherence directly impacts treatment effectiveness, patient quality of life, and costs for the healthcare system. However, current data show that only half of patients follow their prescribed treatment regimens, leading to negative consequences such as increased morbidity, higher rates of hospital admissions, and various adverse effects for both patients and the healthcare system.

Open innovation: a collaborative approach

Cinfa is committed to open innovation as a key strategy for addressing various challenges, including therapeutic adherence. Through our CinfaNext platform, we foster co-creation and the use of emerging technologies to develop innovative healthcare solutions that enhance the quality of life for patients with chronic conditions. This approach enables us to lead the way in developing therapeutic solutions that improve adherence while also contributing to a more efficient healthcare system.

During the event at the University of Navarra, 25 teams made up of Pharmacy, Nutrition, and other students worked on finding potential solutions, guided by Marta Pedrosa, Innovation Analyst at Cinfa. Each team focused on identifying and analysing the problem, defining opportunities for improvement, and developing a profile of the target audience for their proposals.

This hackathon brought together the creativity of young talent and the expertise of industry professionals, generating innovative ideas that could have a tangible impact on the healthcare sector in the near future.

After evaluating the ideas based on their innovation and feasibility, three finalists were selected. First place went to the creation of a medical device designed to help patients with dysphagia take their medication more easily. Second place was awarded to an app aimed at patients with ADHD, designed to monitor medication intake and featuring a reward system to encourage adherence to treatment. Third place was given to a wearable wristband with vibrating alarms, designed to remind patients when to take their medication.

In conclusion, the hackathon demonstrated not only that collaboration and co-creation are essential, but also that they can drive innovative ideas with the potential to significantly improve patients’ quality of life.