Janssen has developed a new mobile-enabled reminder service to help US patients take their medication as prescribed.

The Care4Today programme aims to improve non-adherence rates that currently cost the US healthcare system an estimated $290bn each year.

The new system's free, secure mobile app and website allows users to set up tailored reminders that can be sent to iPhone, Android, Blackberry and other smartphones, as well as older 'feature phones'.

Some 88 per cent of Americans have a mobile phone and nearly half of American adults (46 per cent) have a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center. Meanwhile, studies have shown text message reminders can improve medication adherence.

Care4Today was developed by Janssen's San Diego-based Healthcare Innovation team, an entrepreneurial unit within Janssen Research & Development that was set up last year.

“Janssen Healthcare Innovation is developing products and services to transform the patient experience and promote better health outcomes. We have identified improving medication adherence as one of our key initiatives,” said Diego Miralles, the head of Janssen Healthcare Innovation.

Patient non-adherence is widely recognised by those in the healthcare delivery, healthcare policy and pharmaceutical industry as a major threat to individual and population health.

In addition to Janssen's focus on the issue, a number of other pharma companies are looking to use online and mobile-enabled tools to improve adherence.

In May, Eisai launched an all-mobile adherence campaign to encourage Japanese patients suffering from reflux esophagitis to keep taking their medication and last month Merck & Co teamed up with Geisinger Health System.

Merck's deal with the US healthcare organisation will see the partners look to improve patient adherence to diabetes and cardiovascular treatment plans using web applications and management solutions.

Janssen's new Care4Today Mobile Adherence platform will provide customised reminders for patients to take their medication, refill prescriptions and visit healthcare providers via a secure messaging service to their mobile phone.

Each reminder message requires a response that is recorded in the user's adherence record stored on the secure and privacy-protected care4today.com website

The mobile adherence platform is not limited to products from Janssen, or its parent company Johnson & Johnson, and can be used for any kind of prescription or over-the-counter medication or nutritional supplement.