Portfolio News

FDA Expands Real-World Evidence Partnership with Brigham and Women’s

The FDA, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Aetion are expanding their real-world evidence (RWE) demonstration to predict the results of seven ongoing FDA drug trials. The FDA drug or treatment trials are in Phase IV, meaning the drug or treatment is being tracked over a long period for a greater number of patients. The partnership between the three organizations, called RCT DUPLICATE, marks the first time researchers will estimate the results of randomized controlled trials that haven’t yet finished. The expanded partnership will build on the original...

Health care leaders back Xealth with Series A funding to digitally enable patient care

Seattle-based digital prescribing platform Xealth today announced that it has raised $11 million in a Series A financing round. The funds will fuel the expansion of Xealth’s platform, allowing it to better connect patients and doctors. McKesson Ventures, Novartis, Philips, and ResMed are new investors in this round. They join existing investors Threshold Ventures (formerly DFJ Venture), Providence Ventures, UPMC, and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network. Xealth allows clinicians to prescribe and monitor digital health care content such as apps, devices, and services,...

Aledade Strengthens Product, Technology and Clinical Leadership

Aledade recently announced a series of promotions in its leadership team. Co-founder Edwin Miller has moved into the role of Chief Product Officer; the company named athenahealth veteran Brady Richards as its new Chief Technology Officer; and Emily Maxson, MD, was named the company’s first Chief Medical Officer. “Aledade’s success would not be possible without the insight and expertise of those in our executive team, who are some of the best minds in primary care, technology, and data analytics,” said Aledade CEO and Co-founder Dr. Farzad...

Big data study identifies drugs that increase risk of psychosis in youth with ADHD

In a paper recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School said that certain drugs prescribed to teens and young adults with ADHD increase the risk of psychosis. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, analyzed data from commercial insurance claims using the Aetion Evidence Platform™. The Aetion platform uses real-world data to quickly generate regulatory-grade evidence. It is also being used by the FDA in its ongoing real-world evidence demonstration program. The researchers evaluated the...

Humana, Accolade integrate offerings for employers, plan members

Health insurance company Humana is teaming up with health consumer experience firm Accolade to “better provide a differentiated healthcare and benefits experience for consumers,” the companies say. The companies intend to partner in order to offer a well-rounded service package that includes Humana’s provider networks, and other Humana insurance and benefits offerings, and bring Accolade’s member engagement services and integrated health and benefits partner programs. The companies plan to launch the integrated platform first in the Cincinnati and Milwaukee areas. The idea of the partnership is to provide...