Digital Therapeutics Canada Newsletter #1 - July 26, 2022

Welcome to the Digital Therapeutics Canada community! You are reading the 1st edition of our new LinkedIn newsletter - we hope you will find it informative and engaging.

Digital Therapeutics (or, DTx) is a new category of digital health offering mobile health software apps that are evidence-based therapeutic interventions intended to prevent, manage, or treat a broad spectrum of physical, mental, and behavioral health conditions. DTx products are held to the same standards of evidence and regulatory oversight as traditional pharmaceutical therapeutics (Rx).

Digital Therapeutics Canada (DTC) is Canada's newest community of healthcare practitioners, clinicians, innovators, investors, hackers (for good), health policymakers, digital health enthusiasts and educators, who are working to advance digital therapeutic (DTx) products for the Canadian population. DTx products have the potential to reduce costs to the Canadian healthcare system because they enable patients to get simple, effective, evidence-based digital therapeutic interventions from any location by using their own smartphone/tablet or another mobile technology.

But is Canada ready to embrace the DTx revolution in healthcare? The Digital Therapeutic Alliance in the USA, which is an industry association for DTx product innovators, industry partners and health system stakeholders, has championed the US-FDA's regulation of this new class of evidence-based products, and lobbied for legislation that provides reimbursement of DTx solutions by the USA's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In Canada however, the path to market is still nebulous; healthcare providers and DTx innovators are looking for new regulatory guidance, health reimbursement policy and commercial precedents to bring these revolutionary products to market and benefit Canadians.  

This first edition of our DTC monthly newsletter will inform you about the latest developments and news about Canadian DTx companies, their products, relevant events, DTx job openings, Health Canada regulatory updates and reimbursement plans supportive of DTx products. We will also share insights and best practices used by DTx companies on how to reduce the barriers to commercialize DTx products in Canada.

Most of all, we want your engagement in this DTC community! Reach out to us at [email protected], and share your thoughts, ideas, content suggestions for future newsletters. Enjoy this 1st edition!

by Rina Carlini, PhD; President & CEO - Optimal Innovation Group

Building the Pathway to DTx Reimbursement: not a one-size-fits-all model

The key to realizing the potential of digital therapeutics is having a clear path to reimbursement. “Every country is unique and the reimbursement framework will have to fit in with existing systems,” says Megan Coder, chief policy officer at the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA). Read more... (Source: Reuters Events?)

Digital Therapeutics Alliance and Healthware Group Partnership

The partnership aims to develop consistent pathways for DTx recognition and scalability in Europe. Read more... ( Source: Digital Therapeutics Alliance)

Apple's Approach to Digital Health

Apple announced their latest digital health technology strategy, focused on Apple Watch and chronic disease management. Read more... (Source: Apple Inc.)

Op-Ed: Digital Therapeutics Requires a Healthcare Paradigm Shift

Read the op-ed by Chris Wasden, Chief Strategy Officer at Happify Health, on their partnership strategy,  the business environment for DTx and how to encourage physician uptake. Read more... (Source: MobiHealthNews)

DTx East 2022 – Exclusive Opportunity for Canadian DTx Companies

September 27-29, 2022 , Boston, Massachusetts (Venue: Boston Park Plaza Hotel)

DTx East 2022 is 5th annual conference and exhibition focused on addressing critical topics in DTx product innovation, commercialization, reimbursement, and more. Out team at Optimal Innovation Group has negotiated a special discount exhibitor package for up to 5 Canadian DTx companies! The exhibitor package includes:

• 2 attendee conference passes per company
• exhibitor table top (includes 6" table, 2 chairs, electrical, internet)
• branding for each company
• inclusion in the event marketing campaign for each company
• full delegate list (including contact info)

For those who simply want to attend and not exhibit, we have negotiated a 20% group discount off the registration fee for Canadian DTx companies that identify with the Digital Therapeutics Canada community. Contact OIG by no later than AUGUST 15, 2022 at: [email protected] , to take advantage of these special offers.

Serenity DTx

A trusted provider of transformative digital therapeutics, to measurably enhance and improve health and personal well-being. Securing this portable remotely administered technology will positively disrupt, enhance, and advance medical treatment strategies. The platform WILL improve and expedite health outcomes, respecting cost effectiveness.  

In June 2022, Serenity DTx became a member of Research Canada.

MEMOTEXT - Full Stack Engineer

Serenity DTx - VR Therapeutic Developer

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Want to keep up to date with the latest DTx developments in Canada? Subscribe to DTC's monthly newsletter - better yet, share this newsletter with your colleagues and friends, and help us build the Canadian DTx ecosystem.