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Celgene is planning to use Apple's ResearchKit framework for an observational study into the burden of chronic anaemia in two blood disorders.

Working on the project with biomedical research organisation Sage Bionetworks, Celgene aims to collect difficult-to-quantify data in myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia.

The partners' mobile study will also collect neurological assessments of patients using cognitive testing software from BrainBaseline, technology that allows self-assessment of cognitive performance.

Celgene said its app would additionally support patients living with their disease and allow them to understand their physical functioning and other symptoms of anaemia.

Michael Pehl, president of hematology and oncology for Celgene, said: "We stand at a point where technology is unlocking the ability to capture patient reported outcomes.

"Through our collaboration with Sage Bionetworks and the evolving capability of smartphones and wearables as robust data collection devices, we believe we will be able to provide important new insights for patients with MDS and beta-thalassemia."

Myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia typically have clinical endpoints outside traditional measures.

The project will see Celgene and Sage work with patient groups the MDS Foundation and Cooleys Anemia Foundation on defining the right elements for the mobile app to capture in order to ensure it is relevant for patients.

For months and months speculation was rife about the Apple Watch (or iWatch as was the expected moniker) and the possible implications and applications for healthcare. Then we had the 9th March launch event in San Francisco and theApple Watch seemed to sink like a lead balloon in the minds of health technology enthusiasts. This was aided by articles such as the one in the Wall Street Journal that claimed much of the exciting health sensor technology had been scrapped and asked: What Exactly Is an Apple Watch For? (Subscription required)

I believe that technology only becomes socially interesting when it becomes technologically boring. We can only really impact health at scale when we utilise technology that has true mainstream reach. However I feel there are still a number of key reasons the Apple Watch is worth thinking about for healthcare broadly, and pharmaceutical companies specifically. Here are five reasons pharma should care as we approach the April 24th Apple Watch launch date