Digital health, where’s the science?


September 21, 2015

With the number of healthcare apps in the US topping 165K, how many are backed by actual science? The FTC cracked down on another app last week for claiming to improve your vision. And this sleep expert says you should think twice about that snooze-tracking wearable. (Psst—our friends at Evidation are bringing much-needed validation to digital health).

Two other companies near and dear to us had big news last week: Omada Healthraised $48M to continue its crusade against chronic disease, and Lumity closed a$14M round to help employers save millions on health plans.

Headlines

Life Sciences Execs: Next Digital Health Platforms Will Be Healthcare-Led
MobiHealthNews

Head Of Mental Health Institute Leaving For Google Life Sciences
The New York Times

Patches On The Skin Can Analyse Sweat And Monitor Glucose
The Economist

Docs Protest 5,000% Overnight Price Increase For Life-Saving Drug
The New York Times

Virtual Reality In Healthcare: Where’s The Innovation?
TechCrunch

Massachusetts Hospital Uses Smartphone Camera To Diagnose Cancer
MobiHealthNews

How To Study 1M Patients' Medical Charts
Scientific American

New Software Analyses Aim To Reduce Problems With Multiple-Drug Combinations
Scientific American

Can AI Save Diabetics From Blindness?
The Economist

11 Reasons To Be Pumped For Rock Health Summit
Rock Health blog

Rock Health In The News

Lumity Raises $14M To Devise Better Health Insurance Plans For Companies
TechCrunch

Omada Health CEO: Humana Acquisition Is A Good Thing For Us
MedCityNews

Funding

 

Company Amt Investors Source
Omada Health $48M Norwest Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, US Venture Partners (USVP), Rock Health, GE Ventures, dRx Capital Forbes
Headspace $34M Angels MobiHealthNews
Kyruus $25M New Leaf Ventures, Providence Helath & Services, Leerink Capital Partners, McKesson Ventures, Fidelity Biosciences, Highland Capital Partners, Lux Capital, Venrock HIT Consultant
Lumity $14M Social+Capital Partnership Forbes
Leaf Healthcare $3.3M Undisclosed MedCity News
Valencell $2.6M Undisclosed MobiHealthnews

Get the full roundup of digital health funding deals since 2011. Subscribe to our funding database.