Click Therapeutics Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH inked a deal valued at more than $500 million to collaborate on the development and commercialization of a prescription-based digital therapeutic for schizophrenia. The mobile application, currently called CT-155, uses cognitive and neurobehavioral techniques to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as cognitive deficits and impaired social functioning.
HONG KONG – Tokyo-based Cureapp Inc. has received the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)’s green light to manufacture and sell Cureapp SC [Smoking Cessation] Nicotine Addiction Treatment App and CO Checker, its therapeutics app to aid patients who are quitting smoking.
Biofourmis Inc. scooped up $100 million in a series C round that was led by Softbank Vision Fund 2. The funds are earmarked to accelerate U.S. and global expansion of Biofourmis’ artificial intelligence (AI)-powered health analytics platform and to advance its pipeline of digital therapeutics. The company focuses software-based therapeutics and AI tools for personal predictive care and has U.S. FDA-cleared products that aim to boost clinicians’ ability to remotely monitor and treat patients.
More than 70% of individuals using Big Health’s newest digital therapeutic, Daylight, achieved remission of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) within 10 weeks, and the benefit persisted for at least six months, according to results published in Depression and Anxiety.
Medrhythms Inc., a digital therapeutics startup based in Portland, Maine, won an FDA breakthrough device designation for its Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) treatment platform for people with chronic walking impairments due to stroke.
Now that Roche Holding AG has digested its Foundation Medicine and Flatiron acquisitions from a few years ago, it has looked to add more digital capabilities in a couple of recent deals. The earlier big-ticket tie-ups by the Basel, Switzerland-based pharma added genomic and real-world data analytics to deepen the knowledge driving Roche’s R&D efforts, particularly in oncology.
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Limbix Health Inc. secured $9 million in series A funding for development of Spark, its prescription digital therapeutic (PDT) designed to treat depression in adolescents. GSR Ventures led the round with additional funding from other existing investors, including Sequoia Capital, Storm Ventures, Nextgen Venture Partners and Bixink Therapeutics.
Digital therapeutics have had a tough time gaining traction in the last few years. They’ve been hampered by sometimes reluctant payers, providers and regulators who lack familiarity with the approach, which typically employs an app or other technology to treat a patient by supporting behavioral adjustments.
Digital mental health startup Silvercloud Health Inc. has scooped up $16 million in a series B round led by Memorialcare Innovation Fund. The Boston-based company plans to use the funds to grow program offerings in North America, enhance its global portfolio and conduct new research and clinical trials. LRV Ventures, OSF Ventures and Unitypoint Health Ventures also participated in the round, along with existing investors Act Venture Capital and B Capital Group. With this latest round, Silvercloud has raised a total of $30 million.
