ANN ARBOR – Hygieia, a digital insulin enhancement company, announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Spirit Healthcare, Ltd. to expand accessibility to the d-Nav Insulin Guidance Service across the United Kingdom. Under the agreement, Spirit will license and become a local distributor of the d-Nav Service and other tools developed by Hygieia through March 2021. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Spirit distribution agreement builds on Hygieia’s successful implementation of the d-Nav Service in Northern Ireland. In 2016, its South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) presented data demonstrating that National Health Service (NHS) patients using the d-Nav Service experienced a significant drop in average blood glucose (known as HbA1c) and a substantial reduction in diabetes care costs within 12 months.
“Insulin has been available for almost 100 years, but we’re still not using it effectively for most patients, and this translates into persistent clinical and economic challenges,” said Eran Bashan, Hygieia CEO. “There are more than 500,000 insulin users with type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom. We are excited to partner with Spirit Healthcare, because their reach and local expertise will enable us to offer the proven benefits of the d-Nav Service to these patients and their physicians.”
The Hygieia d-Nav Insulin Guidance Service combines smart cloud-based technology and a small team of healthcare professionals to support primary care physicians and help people with diabetes achieve improved health. The d-Nav Service provides personalized adjustments to enhance and simplify insulin dosing, maximizing its effectiveness for patients and the physicians who prescribe it.
“The d-Nav Service has demonstrated remarkable clinical outcomes on a large scale, and thereby offers tangible, unique benefits to insulin users,” said Chris Barker, Spirit Healthcare CEO. “As part of our aim to make the nation healthier and happier by delivering real value in healthcare, we view the Service as a tremendous opportunity to expand and enhance the growing suite of solutions we provide patients with type 2 diabetes, their physicians and the UK healthcare system.”
As of October 2017, Spirit will make the d-Nav Service available to more than 3 million patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in England, Scotland and Wales.* Hygieia will continue to offer the d-Nav service for insulin users with type 2 diabetes in Northern Ireland.
In spring 2016, Hygieia and Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan (BCBSM) launched a demonstration project for the d-Nav Service, evaluating the cost savings associated with the Service as compared to the standard of care among people with type 2 diabetes. Blue Cross made a direct investment in Hygieia to support the full cost of the demonstration. The companies expect to report interim results from this project during September 2017.
*Ref: Diabetes UK Facts & Stats, October 2016 https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Position%20statements/DiabetesUK_Facts_Stats_Oct16.pdf
