Three years ago Boehringer-Ingelheim set up a team called New Business Model and Healthcare Innovation with a mission of looking at everything that was non-therapeutic, because it wanted to see how these technologies would fit into a prescription medicine portfolio once they were de-risked. It has since initiated collaborations with Propeller Health and become a strategic partner with accelerator Rock Health.
In the background it has been working with several digital health and medical device startups to assess and validate their technology. Although there’s a certain amount of due diligence done in house, big pharma companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim as well as digital health companies are making use of programs like those offered by the Center for Connected Health in Boston, specifically the Red Team Review and Technical Deep Dive programs.
Larry Brooks, the director of Healthcare Innovation at Boehringer-Ingelheim worked with the team about one year ago to assess Propeller Health’s smart inhaler. Last month the company talked at Health 2.0 about its collaboration with Propeller Health. It’s just one of many collaborations it is doing for technologies that would be a good fit for its pharmaceutical company such as patient engagement, medication adherence, health management and clinical decision support.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Kurt Glacy who overseas the Red Team Review program, said it consists of a cross section of healthcare ecosystem members such as providers, payers, technologists, and business people. They assess the competitive advantages and weaknesses of the technologies. Although it is designed primarily for startups, companies that collaborate with these early stage companies use the program too.
“I wanted to start this program because it seemed like there were a lot of good incubators out there but what do you do for companies that aren’t in an incubator,” Glacy said. He added, “I want to have people engaged in design from the beginning. This program moves [the industry] towards that.”
In addition to technologies, the Red Team Review has been called upon to evaluate the impact of introducing new services, such as greater transparency. It’s not just about looking at the positive impact of making that move but the unintended consequences that could result from it.
Even though the program has been active for more than three years, the program has had a relatively low profile and that’s the way most companies using the program like it.
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
