Welcome to this week's edition of Digital MD. This week’s top stories explore groundbreaking advancements in healthcare technology, from AI-powered operational tools to life-changing therapies and telehealth platforms. Discover how leading institutions like Johns Hopkins and CareFirst are driving innovation with new accelerators, and learn about the latest FDA approvals and tech partnerships that are transforming patient care.

Top Insights of the Week

Inspirational Pill

Johns Hopkins, CareFirst, Techstars launch healthcare AI accelerator

Johns Hopkins University and insurer CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield are partnering with venture capital firm Techstars to launch an accelerator for startups. 

he 13-week program will offer funding, guidance from experts and support navigating the healthcare ecosystem and regulatory environment to up to 12 health tech, medtech and biotech startups per class and up to 24 companies per year.

Startups, Therapies and Devices

FDA Approves IDH1/2 Inhibitor for Certain Patients With Astrocytoma or Oligodendroglioma

The (FDA) has approved vorasidenib (Voranigo), an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) and -2 (IDH2) inhibitor, for adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with a susceptible IDH1 or IDH2 mutation, following surgery including biopsy, subtotal resection, or gross total resection

Signia unveils earbud-style hearing aids with prescription-level sound quality

Hearing aid manufacturer Signia announced its new product, Signia Active Pro Integrated Xperience (IX) earbuds, which also qualify as prescription-grade hearing aids. Integrated Xperience is a hearing aid platform that includes multi-stream architecture with the ability to identify multiple moving conversation partners in real-time.

AI, Digital Tools and Partnerships

Qventus' AI operational assistant helps patients prepare for Northwestern Medicine's operating room

Qventus’ new AI operational assistant will be able to help collect all the necessary information before a patient goes into surgery, which would traditionally be performed by case managers, care navigators, schedulers or medical assistants.

Imidex partners with Orbit Genomics to detect early-stage lung cancer

The partnership aims to combine Imidex's chest X-ray technology with Orbit's DNA sequencing technology to advance the early detection of lung cancer.

The partners plan to combine their offerings by utilizing VisiRad XR to help with lung cancer detection, and then having Orbit test those identified lung nodule patients with OrbiSeq-L.

Pfizer launches new telehealth platform to serve consumers directly 

The PfizerForAll platform enables users to connect with independent healthcare professionals via telehealth or in person, receive prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments and diagnostic tests delivered to their home, or access them at their local pharmacy and find where Covid-19, flu, RSV and pneumococcal vaccines may be found and book an appointment.

Glytec expands partnership with Roche for hospital diabetes management

Diabetes and insulin management software company Glytec and pharmaceutical firm Roche are teaming up to allow the use of Glytec's software in connection with Roche's point-of-care smart-device hospital blood glucose system cobas pulse in the U.S. and global markets.

Medical device giant Abbott teams up with four of the industry’s largest insulin pump companies to integrate their automated insulin delivery systems into its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor (CGM)

Abbott and insulin pump companies Medtronic, Insulet, Tandem Diabetes Care and Ypsomed partnership makes it easier for patients to access a combination of best-in-class glucose monitors and insulin pumps and confirm the increased consumerization of healthcare.

Remote Patient Monitoring

Reimagine Care extends partnership with Memorial Hermann Health System

Reimagine Care partners with providers and health plans to coordinate care in the home to avoid unnecessary inpatient visits. Reimagine clinicians can remotely monitor patients, work with oncologists to determine whether patients need additional services and send home care workers to assist.

Report

More employers now offer fertility benefits, particularly fertility medications and in vitro fertilization

Forty-two percent of U.S. employers now offer fertility benefits, according to a report recently released by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans — up from 30% in 2020.

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