In our Xavier's Tech Insights series, we explore companies that use engineering and data to solve complex problems. This week, we look at AARDEX Group, a Belgian MedTech company tackling one of healthcare's biggest challenges: medication non-adherence. This happens when patients do not take their medication as prescribed.
The €100 billion problem: Why treatments fall short
One of modern healthcare's biggest challenges is not a lack of new medicines. It is how patients follow their treatment plans. Nearly 50% of patients with chronic conditions do not take their medication as prescribed.
The consequences are significant. Healthcare systems face billions of euros in avoidable costs. More importantly, patients may not receive the full benefits of their treatment. This is where AARDEX Group's approach becomes interesting. The company uses connected devices and data analytics to better understand medication-taking behaviour.
Why AARDEX Group stands out
AARDEX combines connected hardware with advanced software to address medication adherence.
Connected hardware: Turning medication packaging into data
AARDEX's MEMS® (Medication Event Monitoring System) is an example of how IoT can support healthcare. The technology turns everyday medication packaging, such as bottles and blister packs, into connected monitoring devices. Each time a package is opened, the system records an event. Patients do not need to use a complex app. The packaging itself collects the data. This makes the technology easier to use in daily life.
Data analytics: Understanding medication-taking behaviour
Recording when medication packaging is opened is only the first step. AARDEX's main strength lies in how it analyses that information. Its platform uses proprietary algorithms to model patients' actual exposure to medication. This gives healthcare professionals a clearer view of how closely patients follow their treatment plans. Instead of relying only on reported behaviour, they can use recorded data to assess treatment adherence.
Business impact: More reliable clinical trials
Reliable medication adherence data is important in clinical research. If researchers cannot accurately assess when patients take their medication, the results of a clinical trial may be harder to interpret.
AARDEX helps improve the quality of this information.
Its technology can support:
- More reliable and efficient clinical trials.
- More accurate treatment dosing.
- Faster development and approval processes for new treatments.
A Closer look: Solving healthcare's last-mile challenge
What makes AARDEX particularly interesting is how it uses data to address the final stage of treatment: what happens when medication reaches the patient. As engineers, we know that even the best software can fail if people cannot use it effectively. The same principle applies to medicine. A treatment may be scientifically effective, but its benefits can be limited if patients do not follow the prescribed schedule. AARDEX goes beyond simply reminding patients to take their medication.
Its technology helps connect medical treatment plans with patients' everyday behaviour. This creates a more reliable link between clinical research and real-world treatment.
Company spotligh
→ Company: AARDEX Group
→ Leadership: Bernard Vrijens, CEO.
→ Headquarters: Liège, Belgium
→ Industry: BioTech / MedTech
→ Why AARDEX Group stands out : AARDEX combines simple connected hardware with advanced data analytics. Its technology makes medication monitoring easier for patients while giving healthcare professionals more detailed information. This balance between simple hardware and sophisticated software makes AARDEX an interesting company to follow.
Read Xavier Lernould's post
Published: 13 Avril 2026 - LinkedIn.
