Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Digital health technologies (DHTs) leverage digital tools and data to improve health outcomes, enhance healthcare delivery, and empower individuals to manage their health. This study examines collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and digital health startups to develop and secure reimbursement for DHTs.
METHODS: A targeted review of Health Technology Assessments (HTAs), journal articles, and news publications (2015-2024) identified case studies of collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and DHT startups. Industry insights and examples were analyzed, focusing on partnership type, geography, interventions, therapeutic area(s), and key success factors.
RESULTS: Fifteen collaborations were analyzed, predominantly from the United States (n=10) and three each from Europe and Australia. These partnerships targeted mental health, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and other chronic conditions. Successful examples included Eli Lilly-SideKick Health’s breast cancer application and Boehringer Ingelheim-Propeller Health’s digital platform for asthma, leveraging complementary strengths: pharmaceutical companies contributed clinical trial infrastructure and market access, while startups provided agility and innovation. Common partnership models included joint ventures (n=6), licensing agreements (n=5), strategic investments (n=3) and buying existing technologies (n=1). Key success factors were goal alignment, shared intellectual property agreements, and early collaboration with payers. While clinically effective and cost-efficient technologies achieved greater success, challenges included reimbursement hurdles due to inconsistent value assessment criteria and trial design uncertainties. Co-developed reimbursement roadmaps and early health economic evidence integration proved critical in addressing challenges.
CONCLUSIONS: Partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and digital health startups create patient-centric solutions. These collaborations enable early engagement with payers, align strategic goals, and integrate economic evidence to drive healthcare improvements. The focus on diverse markets, including the US, Australia, and Europe, highlights the global impact and potential of these partnerships in advancing digital health innovations. Future initiatives should focus on addressing barriers to accelerate the adoption and impact of DHTs in healthcare systems globally.