PatientsLikeMe and LetsGetChecked accomplice to extend residence testing choices
Due to a newly shaped partnership, PatientsLikeMe group well being community members could have entry to at-home diagnostics firm LetsGetChecked’s choices and obtain reductions on screening exams.
Mass.-based PatientsLikeMe is a customized well being community that features a affected person help group, well being administration and a real-world knowledge platform. It emerged in 2004 as one of many early gamers within the digital well being house.
Based in 2015, LetsGetChecked provides at-home exams, together with ones for sexual well being, diabetes, thyroid, ldl cholesterol and COVID-19.
“Healthcare shoppers as we speak expect elevated engagement and entry with regards to their care companies, and testing isn’t any exception. With the partnership between PatientsLikeMe and LetsGetChecked, our members can now anticipate enhanced capabilities with handy entry to at-home testing options, guaranteeing people can obtain the care and help they want, once they want it,” Chris-Renfo Wallace, chief working officer of PatientsLikeMe, informed MobiHealthNews in an e-mail.
THE LARGER TREND
In 2017, PatientsLikeMe secured $100 million in funding, primarily from a partnership with well being knowledge and genomics firm iCarbonX, a enterprise based by scientist Jun Wang and closely backed by Chinese language mega-conglomerate Tencent.
In 2019, iCarbonX, the Chinese language agency holding the bulk stake within the firm, was ordered by the Treasury Division’s Committee on International Funding in america to divest its shares as a consequence of issues about overseas funding and affect, forcing PatientsLikeMe to hunt a brand new purchaser for its stake within the on-line community.
In 2019, PatientsLikeMe introduced it signed a take care of UnitedHealth Group to turn into a part of the managed healthcare and insurance coverage firm’s analysis department, which sparked issues about privateness and knowledge sharing among the many public, notably seen on social media.
Final yr, the corporate introduced it acquired $26 million in funding
Up to now, the corporate has raised $153 million, in line with Crunchbase, and in October launched a uncommon illness examine centered on Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) with healthcare know-how firm SEQSTER.
LetsGetChecked has additionally garnered a considerable quantity of funding. In September, JP Morgan Chase’s healthcare enterprise unit, Morgan Well being, introduced a $20 million strategic funding in LetsGetChecked.
A yr earlier than, the distant diagnostics firm closed a $150 million Collection D funding spherical, constructing on raises in 2018, 2019 and 2020.