Novo Nordisk, Glooko To Jointly Offer Digital Health Solutions For Diabetics
By Jof Enriquez,
Follow me on Twitter @jofenriq
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is working with Silicon Valley startup Glooko in launching jointly-developed and branded digital health solutions to help diabetics better manage their condition. The new offerings will leverage Glooko's mobile and web platforms and Novo Nordisk's expertise in diabetes management.
Novo Nordisk, the world's biggest maker of insulin products marketed in 180 countries, has an existing collaboration with IBM Watson to collect and analyze real-time data from patients using Novo Nordisk treatments and devices. The non-exclusive deal with Glooko extends the company's reach to more consumers, especially those who are tech-savvy patients, using apps and wearables to keep their blood glucose steady, eat healthy meals, stay active, and maintain an insulin regimen.
"We are excited to partner with Glooko and to take another step towards delivering digital health offerings that help people with diabetes to improve their blood glucose control. Working in partnerships will furthermore enhance our ability to demonstrate the real-world value of our portfolio of diabetes treatments," Christian Kanstrup, senior VP, Strategy, Access & Marketing, Novo Nordisk, said in a news release.
Glooko's digital health platform syncs with over 50 glucose monitors and fitness and activity trackers to store patient data, and makes recommendations on medication adherence, diet, and blood glucose management. Among its partners is Medtronic, which has successfully integrated its diabetes devices into Glooko’s platform. Glooko claims its platform, which allows healthcare professionals remotely support diabetes patients, is used by 48,000 health systems across 27 countries.
"Glooko's partnership with Novo Nordisk aims to empower tens of millions of patients with digital tools to make diabetes management easier," said Rick Altinger, Glooko CEO. "We look forward to delivering jointly-branded capabilities that will enhance the collaboration between patient and healthcare professionals and enable us to provide joint offerings to people living with diabetes around the world."
The two companies have not provided details on upcoming joint products, but Altinger told MedCity News that they are “looking into” adding a digital component to the pharma company’s NovoPen Echo smart insulin pen. Glooko reportedly said that the companies will co-develop products offering “personalized support” for diabetics.
“This is really exciting for us, because there has been a need for an agnostic platform that launches better data driven decisions,” Altinger told MobiHealthNews. “From our standpoint, we can help patients on a global basis, and this also allows us to focus more on core technology while Novo Nordisk brings that vast set of educational content and clinical research that they have developed over the years.”