Welcome to this week’s edition of Digital MD, where we spotlight Yale School of Medicine’s recognition by the NIH for rare disease genetics, Google DeepMind's latest AI tool for drug design, and the FDA’s green light for hearing aid features in Apple’s AirPods. Stay informed on the key developments transforming healthcare and technology!

Top Insights of the Week

Inspirational Pill

Yale School of Medicine recognized by NIH for excellence in genetics of rare diseases

Yale School of Medicine (YSM) has received a $3.35 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to join the Undiagnosed Diseases Network as a Diagnostic Center of Excellence. The Yale Diagnostic Center of Excellence (YDCoE) aims to enhance genetic testing and diagnosis for Connecticut patients from underserved populations with unexplained symptoms. 

The Undiagnosed Diseases Network connects research and clinical sites across the U.S. to improve understanding and treatment of undiagnosed diseases. The Yale Center will also help primary care physicians better recognize and diagnose rare diseases.

Startups, Therapies and Devices

Google DeepMind unveils AlphaProteo for AI drug design

Google DeepMind announced the launch of AlphaProteo, an AI system to help biological and health researchers design novel, high-strength proteins that bind to target molecules with accuracy and strength.

A Travere Therapeutics drug for a rare disease that can progress to kidney failure has converted its status to full FDA approval

The Travere drug, Filspari, treats immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), a disease in which a patient’s immune system produces excessive amounts of antibodies that damage the kidney. Filspari’s accelerated FDA approval last year relied on data showing the drug reduced proteinuria, levels of urine proteins that are a sign of kidney disease. The full approval is based on long-term results showing that San Diego-based biotech’s once-daily pill significantly slowed kidney function decline measured over two years.

FDA greenlights over-the-counter hearing aid features for Apple's AirPods

Users with mild to moderate hearing loss can adjust their volume, tone, and balance settings after setup and that profile will also carry over to calls, music, and other sounds played through their connected Apple hardware.

The FDA estimates that more than 30 million adults in the U.S. report some degree of hearing loss, whether due to aging, exposure to loud noises, or other medical conditions.

AI, Digital Tools and Partnerships

Hippocratic AI partners with academia to create curriculum for AI use in healthcare

Hippocratic AI, a generative AI company developing safety-focused large language models for healthcare, is partnering with Adtalem Global Education to create an academic curriculum to train and certify clinicians on the use of AI in healthcare.

European oncology organization extends clinical trial partnership with Medidata

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), a network of 3,800 members across 50 countries, is extending a partnership with Medidata for another four years. The extended partnership will allow the organization to continue to provide patient access to cancer clinical trials, make trial participation easier, and help deliver new treatments to market faster.

DarioHealth integrates Twill cardiometabolic platform

DarioHealth, a digital chronic condition management platform, announced the integration of Twill's condition-specific communities and peer groups with customized navigation expertise into its cardiometabolic platform.

The integration expands on Dario's holistic approach to managing chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and weight management, and aims to boost member engagement and improve health outcomes.

Sanofi is paying  $110 million to license AlphaMedix, a radiopharmaceutical developed by partners RadioMedix and Orano Med

AlphaMedix is in development for treating neuroendocrine tumors, or NETS, a group of rare cancers that start in neuroendocrine cells. These cells are found throughout the body, therefore NETs can develop anywhere. However, this cancer occurs most frequently in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.

Report

Providers are planning to invest heavily in automation, AI, and machine learning to address staffing shortages while streamlining operations, improving efficiency, and filling gaps.

The findings are from a survey conducted by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and analyzed by Guidehouse. The researchers received completed questionnaires from 134 hospital CFOs, VPs, and other executive-level leaders.

Nationwide hospital mortality risk fell as acuity, volumes rose

An analysis of hospital patients’ risk of death showed that patients hospitalized in the first quarter of 2024 were about 22% more likely to survive as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, after adjusting for illness severity. Put another way, an estimated 200,000 Americans hospitalized between April 2023 and March 2024 survived a stay they would not have in late 2019.

Stay tuned for more content! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe 😃