Carilion Biomedical Institute portfolio company hits major milestone

November 12, 2007(Roanoke, Va.) – The Carilion Biomedical Institute is pleased to announce that  portfolio company Dose Guardian, LLC has hit a major production milestone, and is now ready to sell its desktop medication management system intended for patient or care-giver use in the home environment. 

An alternative to the standard pill box, the Dose Guardian manages medication by sorting, packaging and sealing pills by dose in specially designed bags.  These small bags are labeled for morning or evening, include a space to write down the date and time to take the medicine and conveniently fit into a pocket or purse.  Once taken, the tear away tab on the top of the bag serves as a reminder to indicate that the dose has already been taken. Users can package a month’s worth of medications, vitamins, and supplements in as little as 15 to 20 minutes.

  “I developed this product to help address my own medication compliance issues,” says Jim Gibson, founder and president of the company. “Through my research, I quickly learned that I’m not alone and that something needed to be done to address this global need.  Dose Guardian will benefit others – not only to take their medication, but in turn, it will help them to stay healthy.”   Mr. Gibson has found that some people have actually purchased this device for their parents, commenting that it gives them peace of mind to know that their loved one has an easy to use device to stay on top of their medications.  The Dose Guardian system can also assist seniors to remain in their homes longer by helping them to maintain their proper drug therapy. Medication mismanagement often results in loss of independence. According to the American Heart Association 32 million Americans take three or more pills daily with 10 percent of all hospital admissions and 23 percent of all nursing home admissions being the result of patients failing to take prescription medications correctly.

Dose Guardian is working locally in Roanoke with Carilion Biomedical Institute on several fronts.  In return for working capital dollars from CBI, the Company will be conducting a clinical study in Roanoke and has agreed to work with local vendors to promote the product.  “It sounds simple, but when it comes down to it, people are not very organized with their meds and this leads to non-compliance and waste.  If your doctor prescribes medicine and you pay for it, you really should be taking it.  The Dose Guardian is just a really smart device.  The Company has hit the mark in terms of serving a true marketplace need and for delivering an easy to use product”, CBI Medical Director Andy Muelenaer, MD, emphasizes.

Consumers will have an opportunity to view a live demonstration of the product and to order one, on November 28^th, at Ukrop’s in Roanoke during the grocery store’s flu shot clinic.

The Dose Guardian, almost entirely a Virginia product, is the result of a six year development effort on behalf of Gibson, his wife and co-founder Merri Beth and a multitude of supporters in the health care industry. The Dose Guardian Medication Management System includes a starter set of 30 unit dose packaging strips (a typical 3-month supply), the sorting/sealing unit, and a marking pen. The system retails for $199.99 and can be purchased online at www.DoseGuardian.com or by calling 1-804-726-5448. 

 

Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI) (biomedicalinstitute.org) is dedicated to improving the health and lives of people worldwide by partnering with scientists, researchers, and the medical and business communities to create major advances in healthcare. CBI also connects early-stage companies to venture capital, strategic real estate, management talent, manufacturing partners and healthcare customers.

Ukrop’s (www.ukrops.com) Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc., founded and headquartered in Richmond, Va., with more than 5,600, associates now operates 29 retail food stores, Joe's Market (a regional specialty market), a central bakery and kitchen, and a distribution center. Since 1937, the privately held business remains dedicated to its version of the Golden Rule: “treating customers, associates, and suppliers as they personally want to be treated.” Each year, Ukrop's gives a minimum of 10 percent of its pre-tax profits back to the community. Ukrop's was a pioneer in both loyalty marketing and meal solutions when it launched its Valued Customer® program in 1987 and its chilled prepared foods in 1989. In 1997, Ukrop's established a unique partnership to place banks in its retail locations. Today, it co-owns, with Markel Corporation, 25 First Market Bank branches in Ukrop's locations and 10 free-standing branches.

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