Last we heard from Fitbit, CEO James Park said that the mass-market wearables maker would be continue to be active in clinical research. A new announcement reinforces that commitment.
Wednesday, San Francisco-based Fitbit said it would team with Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on a study of whether weight loss can prevent the recurrence of breast cancer.
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.
Fitbit will provide Charge HR fitness trackers, Aria Wi-Fi smart scales and access to the premium FitStar exercise software platform to nearly 3,200 overweight and obese women with early-stage breast cancer. The goal is to see if the extra motivation from the devices as well as from health coaches can help the patients lose weight and, ultimately, prevent a return of the disease.
“It will be a challenge to help hundreds of women lose weight without actually ever meeting them face-to-face,” Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, lead investigator of the Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) study, said in a statement supplied by Fitbit. “Fitbit products will allow coaches to see how participants are doing in terms of meeting their weight, physical activity and caloric goals, and step in when women need extra support to stay on track.”
The two-year study will involve oncology practices from across the U.S. and Canada, according to Dana-Farber. This is said to be the first trial to investigate the link between weight loss and breast cancer recurrence.
