Instead of using medications or surgery, Virta Health, an online specialty clinic, works to lower diabetic patients’ hemoglobin A1c through continuous remote care. Patients receive care from a physician and health coach. In addition, Virta Health works to reduce patients’ medication intake.
The company’s launch is backed by $37 million in funding from Venrock, Allen & Company, Obvious Ventures, Redmile Group and Scifi VC. Virta Health’s founders include Sami Inkinen, Stephen Phinney, MD, PhD, and Jeff Volek, PhD.
Virta Health teamed up with Lafayette-based Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital to run a clinical trial on its treatment. The trial involved 262 patients with Type 2 diabetes. Over a 10-week period, 56 percent of patients lowered their blood glucose to a non-diabetic range. Eighty-seven percent of patients either reduced or eliminated their insulin intake. The results were published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Diabetes.
“Until now, the only clinically proven way to reverse diabetes was bariatric surgery,” said Mr. Inkinen, who also serves as Virta Health’s CEO, in a statement. “For the first time, people with Type 2 diabetes have an alternative to surgery, which is risky, costly and not covered for most people, and also to ongoing management with medications like insulin.”
*Editor’s note: Previously, this article incorrectly listed the company’s name as “Virtua Health.”
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