Simple health tools for better health outcomes

About Us

AceAge Inc. is a healthcare technology company, creating intuitive products to ease the aging process and improve health outcomes.

Our product Karie is a personal health companion that organizes, schedules, and dispenses pills with one-button technology, ensuring that patients are taking the right medication at the right time. Karie is easy to use, enables greater patient autonomy and ensures better healthcare through a highly coordinated program.

In addition to the release of Karie in 2019, AceAge has been working on various other initiatives, including our I2P2 study with CABHI and the implementation of applied facial recognition.

Our Team

John Simmons

Chief Executive Officer

John brings over 30 years of healthcare experience to AceAge. He joins the company from Abbott Diagnostics, where he has served as General Manager, overseeing the Canadian business operations since 2018. A proven medical devices executive with a core skillset in growing and commercializing Canadian, US and global businesses, he brings particular strengths in developing clear strategies, building teams and identifying and building relationships with stakeholders across various markets. John holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Life Sciences from Queen’s University and an MBA from Simon Fraser University. He is a current Board Member and Chair-Elect for MedTech Canada.

Kiersten Anas Byrick

Chief Operating Officer

Kiersten is a seasoned strategic operations leader with multiple senior leadership roles in operations, engineering, manufacturing, and commercial businesses. She brings direct expertise in many disciplines including demand planning & production scheduling, supply chain & logistics, forecasting, finance, and HR. She is a veteran of fast-paced, fast-growing environments and has been recognized as a strong team builder. Kiersten is an Engineer by training and holds a Master of Engineering Science (Biomedical Engineering), a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Mechanical Engineering) and a Bachelor of Arts (Kinesiology) all from Western University.

Wes van Ooyen

Chief Product Officer

Wes van Ooyen holds 13 patents (issued and pending) in specialty mechanical design, medication delivery dispensing and software integration. He brings extensive senior leadership experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams thru ideation, conceptual and commercial product delivery. His contract manufacturing and supply chain quality & process management experience has proven extremely beneficial as AceAge ramps up to broad commercial deployment.

Garrett Tone

Vice President Business Development & Sales

Garrett brings a wealth of experience in consulting, business development, sales, data intelligence and marketing working within the medical devices, diagnostic and personalized medicine fields. In a variety of progressively more senior roles at IQVIA, Pfizer, LifeLabs and Abbott Diagnostics, his multinational experience helps AceAge develop and expand into new markets, adapting to local market healthcare environments while solving for payor models in support of distribution partners.

Board of Directors

Kym Anthony Chairman, AceAge

Mr. G. F. Anthony is Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Avivagen, Inc., Executive Chairman at Hybrid Partners Ltd., Executive Chairman at Top Meadow Investments, Chairman at Access Energy Technologies Ltd., Chief Executive Officer at Dundee Insurance Agency Ltd., Executive Chairman at Broadacre Agriculture, Inc., a Member at Mount Royal Club and a Member at Toronto Stock Exchange, Inc.

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He is on the Board of Directors at Canadian Opera Co. and COM DEV International Ltd. Mr. Anthony was previously employed as Deputy Chairman by Mackie Research Capital Asset Management, Deputy Chairman by Mackie Research Capital Corp., President & Chief Executive Officer by National Bank Financial, Inc., President & Chief Executive Officer by National Bank Financial, Inc. (Broker), Chairman by ProMetic Life Sciences, Inc., President & Chief Executive Officer by First Marathon, Inc., President & Chief Executive Officer by National Bank of Canada, Vice Chairman by TD Waterhouse Bank, NA, Vice Chairman by The Toronto-Dominion Bank, Treasurer & Risk Manager by CIBC World Markets, Head-Fixed Income & Derivatives by Commercial International Brokerage Co., Executive Chairman by Dundee Bank of Canada, President & Chief Executive Officer by Dundee Mortgage Services, Inc., President, Chief Executive Officer & Director by DWM Securities, Inc., Chairman by exactEarth Ltd., Deputy Chairman by DundeeWealth, Inc., Chairman by Investment Dealers Association of Canada, Chairman by Nabco Systems LLC, Vice Chairman by TD Bank NA, and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer by TD Securities, Inc.

He also served on the board at PCAS Patient Care Automation Services, Inc., Favored, Inc. and Peel Career Assessment Services, Inc.

He received his undergraduate degree from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.

Dan Eldar Managing Director at Longliv Ventures Digital Health Fund

Dan’s career spans over more than three decades with key positions in several industries, management of global corporations, consulting and academia. Dan holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from Harvard University and M.A. and B.A. degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He held teaching positions at Harvard University, at the Hebrew University and at several other academic institutions.

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Dan Eldar has been with the Hutchison Group (“HWL/CKHH”) for more than 20 years. In 1997 Dan was one of the founders of Partner Communications Company Ltd., one of Israel’s leading cellular networks. Since 2008 Dan serves as the Executive Director of Hutchison Water, focused on desalination, hydro-electric projects and water and Cleantech technologies. Dan has more than 25 years of experience in the medical world, serving in key positions in the healthcare and biotech industries. Dan heads the Longliv Venture Fund, focusing on digital health technologies.

David Murphy CEO CareRx

Mr. Murphy brings over 12 years of healthcare experience to CareRx. He joins the Company from Cardinal Health, where he has served as President of its $1.2 billion Canadian business since 2016. During this time, he led a strategic transformation of the Canadian organization, which included integration of the Patient Recovery business purchased from Medtronic.

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Previously, Mr. Murphy was President of the Canadian division of Stryker from 2008 to 2016. Under his leadership, the organization strengthened its market leadership position, improved operating margins and earned consistent recognition as a top Canadian employer and workplace. Mr. Murphy holds MBA and LL.B. degrees from the University of Toronto.

Martin Gurbin President Metamor Health Inc.

Martin (Marty) works with hospital leaders, clinicians, scientists, academics, entrepreneurs and multinationals, business accelerators and governments, in Canada and internationally, to identify and translate new ideas within health systems that simultaneously improve quality and efficiency of care and generate economic returns.

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Over the past 2 decades, Marty has been engaged in a wide range of initiatives and strategies related to health system innovation, healthcare technology development, commercialization and adoption, development of multi-stakeholder domestic and international partnerships and entrepreneurship development. He has served as Sr. Economist at the Ontario Hospital Association, Director of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, the Director of Business Development and Innovation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Founder and Vice President of Sunnybrook International, and currently provides strategic insight and guidance to >100 emerging and established healthcare technology and lifesciences companies/year as Innovation Broker within Ontario’s Office of Chief Health Innovation Strategist and through his own company Metamor Health Inc.

Spencer Waugh Founder

Spencer is the Founder of AceAge, the innovative company behind the healthcare tech product Karie. His background lies in pharma, healthcare technology, and investment industries.

In 2016, he was awarded with SmartStart from Ontario Centres of Excellence and with Fuel Injection from Innovation Guelph. Waugh has spoken at a number of Healthcare-Tech conferences including Healthkick, Aging 2.0, MedEdge and Apps4Health.

Karie

Organizes. Schedules. Reminds. Delivers. Monitors.

Karie is a home health appliance that organizes and delivers medication. It’s a personal healthcare companion, empowering users and improving health outcomes.

Karie provides an automated solution to the common, costly, but completely preventable problem of poor medication adherence for elderly patients living alone.

Why Karie?

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Enables People to Age in Place

23% of patients in long term care are institutionalized because they cannot take their medication properly. AARP reports that 90% of seniors wish to age in their own homes. Karie allows aging individuals to age in place by automating medication regimens.

Relieves Caregivers

Karie reduces the burden on caregivers by eliminating the stress of medication non-adherence. In addition to Karie’s scheduling and delivery features, the device uses smartphone technology to alert family when a patient has missed a dosage.

Security Features

  • Face Recognition
  • Pin Code
  • Early Dose Prevention
    • Bolt to Countertop
    • Lock in Cartridge
    • Disable Early Dispense Function
  • Cartridge Mismatch Notification
  • 72 Hours Battery Backup

Reduces Healthcare Costs

Karie can mitigate the cost of medication non-adherence, which is $290 billion in the US annually. Karie removes the chance of non-adherence through human error via its ability to organize, deliver and monitor medication regimens leading to better health outcomes and increasing one’s control over their care.

Video

Learn how Karie works.

Are you leaving the house for an extended period of time? Karie’s Going Out feature enables users to dispense the medication you will need while absent. Watch how it works.

Karie has a single-load action and dispenses pills with one-button control. This easy to use appliance uses pouch-packaging that is administered by your pharmacist. Watch how to load Karie.

Karie reminds users to take their medication by lighting up and making a chiming noise. Watch how Karie reminds.

Press Releases

AceAge appoints Kiersten Anas Byrick as COO

AceAge appoints Kiersten Anas Byrick as COO

Mar 3, 2022

Burlington, Ontario | March 3, 2022 – John Simmons, CEO AceAge Inc., is pleased to announce the appointment of Kiersten Anas Byrick as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AceAge Inc. effective February 28, 2022. “Kiersten is an accomplished strategic operations...

Dignio & AceAge partner to offer Karie smart pill dispenser in Norway

Dignio & AceAge partner to offer Karie smart pill dispenser in Norway

Feb 3, 2022

Oslo, Norway | February 3, 2022 – Dignio AS, Norway’s leading provider of digital remote care to Home Care services and Care Homes, announced today that it has integrated AceAge Inc. Karie – smart pill dispenser, into its Dignio Connected Care solution.   Lars...

AceAge appoints John Simmons as new CEO

Jun 14, 2021

Kym Anthony, Aceage Inc. Board Chair, has confirmed the appointment of John Simmons as the new CEO of AceAge Inc. effective June 14, 2021.   “John is a proven leader with a track record of delivering outstanding results in senior roles with an extensive...

Government Support

We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

Media

AceAge and Centric Health Announce European Distribution Agreement for Karie Device

AceAge Medication Delivery Device Offered by Wellness Pharmacy Group Free of Charge in British Columbia to Combat COVID-19 Outbreak

Smart medication management for seniors made simple

Burlington-based healthcare company aims to ease burden on healthcare system with automated medication dispenser

AceAge & UofT Partner to Validate Medication Delivery Device

My Aha Moment with Spencer Waugh of AceAge #MaRSaha

Innovation Guelph Client Feature: AceAge

Karie takes first steps as connected health solution

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Research

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A pilot study conducted with University of Toronto demonstrated that the medication delivery device increases medication adherence by 300%.
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University of Toronto Study

This pilot was a randomized, cross-over study in which the participants underwent three weeks of medication treatment with the assistance of Karie and three weeks of medication treatment without using Karie.
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University of Toronto students were recruited as participants and took Omega-3 dietary supplements. Medication adherence was measured by a device delivery log, pill count and as 7 day recall. The 12 participants also completed an exit survey and interview. Only 20% of participants were considered to have been adherent during the control phase, in comparison to 80% were considered to have been adherent using Karie. The study demonstrated that Karie, the medication delivery device, increases medication adherence by 300%.

Collaborators

Amazing Organizations We’re Working With

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