Pfizer Debuts Innovative Video Game and Wristband for Children with Hemophilia
Pfizer Rare Disease has developed a new video game and wearable wristband to help hemophilia patients learn more about their condition and promote activity tracking in the U.S.
The video game, Hemocraft, and the HemMobile Striiv Wearable wristband were launched at the National Hemophilia Foundation’s 69th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Aug. 24-26.
Hemocraft is a modification of the popular sandbox game Minecraft and was developed in collaboration with the Entrepreneurial Game Studio at Drexel University and members of the hemophilia community. The game offers young patients, from 8 to 16 years old, a fun way to learn about the importance of integrating treatment in their routine.
In Hemocraft, players are on a quest and interact with a professional healthcare character – the village doctor – to learn how to follow their treatment plan, why the treatment is important and how it works. During the game, children are challenged to monitor factor levels and self-infuse, if necessary.
Hemocraft is available for download via HEMOCRAFTQuest.com.
“We are excited to see fun and educational tools that help people with a bleeding disorder, but equally as important, their friends and family to better understand the concept of factor levels in being able to stay active, and stay in the game,” Kate Nammacher, senior director of education, National Hemophilia Foundation said in a press release.
The first wearable wristband for hemophilia patients, the HemMobile Striiv Wearable has several features, including tracking daily activity levels and monitoring heart rate. Combined with Pfizer’s HemMobile app, patients with the wristband can register bleeds and infusions, monitor their factor supply, and program appointment reminders. Any patient in the U.S. diagnosed with hemophilia can acquire the HemMobile Striiv Wearable free of charge.
“These new digital innovations can be integrated into everyday routines to help empower people with hemophilia to learn about and track different aspects relevant to their disease so that they can have informed conversations with their health care providers,” said Kevin W. Williams, MD, chief medical officer, Pfizer Rare Disease. “Ongoing innovation, coupled with our research, and support programs, continue to allow Pfizer to positively impact patients’ lives and pioneer a new era in hemophilia — today, and in the future,” he said.
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