Alexion and Aide Health make AI note-taking app free for rare disease patients

People living with rare diseases in the UK can now get two years of free access to Mirror, an AI-powered app that records medical appointments and turns them into plain-language summaries. The move aims to help patients and carers manage complex care, reduce repeat explanations and improve coordination across specialists.

Why it matters: - People living with rare diseases often juggle multiple specialists, long diagnostic journeys and hard-to-absorb medical information. - Mirror is designed to help patients remember what was said, understand next steps and share notes with family members, carers or other clinicians. - The initiative aligns with the UK Rare Diseases Framework goal of better coordinated care and the England Rare Diseases Action Plan’s push for more accessible digital support.

What happened: - Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is partnering with UK digital health company Aide Health to offer Mirror free of charge for two years. - The app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play. - The launch is aimed at people living with rare diseases in the UK.

The details: - Mirror captures medical appointments and turns them into easy-to-read summaries of what was discussed and what happens next. - The app helps people revisit conversations later, which can reduce anxiety and uncertainty during complex care. - Users can share the notes with relatives, carers or clinicians instead of repeating the same information multiple times. - More than 3.5 million people in the UK live with a rare condition. - RareCare research found that 47% of surveyed people with rare disease felt healthcare providers did not share information effectively. - The same research found that 40% rated collaboration between doctors and services as poor or very poor. - Research cited in the announcement says 40% to 80% of medical information can be forgotten immediately after an appointment. - The same research says recall drops as the amount of information increases, and almost half of what is remembered may be incorrect. - Mirror does not diagnose conditions, recommend treatments or make clinical decisions. - Mirror is not a replacement for advice from a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. - Users choose when to record a consultation. - The app helps patients explain to clinicians that they are using it. - Mirror is a Class I Medical Device registered with the UK regulator, the MHRA. - The app is transparent about its use of AI and says safety, accuracy and data protection are built into the design. - Personal information is handled securely and meets high standards of privacy and data protection. - Mirror’s performance is regularly monitored and reviewed to support safe, effective and fair operation. - Ian Wharton, founder and CEO of Aide Health, said Mirror launched one year ago and has drawn strong response from people navigating healthcare. - Wharton said the app has been especially useful for people living with complex conditions and rare diseases. - Wharton said 1 in 4 people wait at least five years for a rare condition diagnosis. - Wharton said patients often see GPs, consultants, specialist nurses and therapists across different departments and settings. - Wharton said Mirror acts as the patient’s consistent record and helps make that complexity more manageable. - Deb​orah Richards, VP and General Manager UK and Ireland at Alexion, said the partnership gives patients and families a practical way to capture information, revisit it in their own time and feel better prepared for care conversations. - More information is available at the rare disease page.

Between the lines: - The free access offer targets a common problem in rare disease care: fragmented information spread across multiple appointments and providers. - The app’s positioning as a record rather than a clinical tool helps frame AI as support for recall and coordination, not medical judgment. - The emphasis on privacy, regulation and monitoring suggests the partners are trying to lower trust barriers for patients handling sensitive health data.

What's next: - Patients and carers can start using Mirror now through the major app stores. - The partnership may serve as a test case for how digital tools can support rare disease care coordination at scale. - The free access period gives more patients a chance to try the app across multiple appointments and specialties.