SYNAPS Dx Partners with Millennial Caregiver App I-Ally: Expands Awareness of Early, Differential Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, Empowers Care Decision-Making
ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SYNAPS Dx (SDx), a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of diagnostics for neurodegenerative disorders and conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), announces its partnership with I-Ally, a community-driven web app that saves millennial family caregivers time, reduces stress and enables informed decision-making by providing services that fulfill their unique needs.
“This collaborative partnership will raise awareness of new options to identify AD earlier in people diagnosed with dementia. This aligns with our goal of putting patients on the right path as early in the disease as possible, when it matters most for caregivers,” says Lucinda Koza, founder and CEO, I-Ally, noting that DISCERN™ is a viable option to both identify AD in people living with dementia and also to differentiate AD from other forms of dementia. “This partnership aligns with our mission to provide the resources, support, advocacy and innovation needed to empower and engage the growing population of millennial family caregivers. Insights gained from the DISCERN test can help patients and caregivers cut through the overwhelming confusion that exists about the wide array of dementia symptoms, which might otherwise take years to sort out.”
Millennials are 40% more likely to be taking care of an aging parent and comprise over one-third of multi-generational family caregivers. An estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with AD. Although AD is the most common type of dementia, there are many other kinds, including multiple strokes, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, Huntington’s disease and B12 deficiency.
Frank Amato, CEO and president, SDx, states, “We are delighted to partner with I-Ally to help empower caregivers to get a diagnosis quickly to rule out or rule in AD for their loved one and gain peace of mind.”
About SYNAPS Dx
SYNAPS Dx is a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of diagnostics for neurological disorders and conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease. The Company offers DISCERN™, the first accurate, minimally invasive test for the definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) versus other forms of dementia. SYNAPS Dx’s laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) as qualified to perform high complexity clinical laboratory testing. If you are a physician or a patient looking for more information on the DISCERN™ test, visit https://discerntest.com/. For more information on the Company, visit https://www.synapsdx.com/. Contact: [email protected].
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SYNAPS Dx Announces Investment by Semler Scientific: Advances Positioning, Accelerates Commercialization of DISCERN Test for Diagnosing Early Alzheimer’s Disease
ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The announcement of a recent investment from Semler Scientific (SMLR) in SYNAPS Dx (SDx), a privately held company focused on the research, development and commercialization of diagnostics for neurodegenerative disorders and conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), further positions DISCERN™ as a diagnostic for early AD. In its fourth quarter and year-to-date 2021 financial results, SMLR said, “SMLR previously announced its Fall 2020 investment in another private company, now known as SDx, whose product is a test for early AD, named DISCERN. SMLR believes its current products and services, and any future products or services that it may offer, positions it to provide valuable information to its customer base, which in turn permits them to better guide patient care.”
Frank Amato, CEO and president, SDx, says, “We believe this investment continues to distinguish the accuracy of our biomarkers from all other diagnostics in AD. DISCERN™ is the first accurate, gold-standard autopsy-confirmed minimally invasive test for the definitive diagnosis of AD vs. other forms of dementia and confirms its value as the most promising breakthrough for early diagnosis of AD. SDx has identified a significant need for the DISCERN test based upon strong adoption of the test during a limited test launch, and market receptivity to its clinical utility study which documents a clear, unmet need for a simple, highly accurate way to identify AD patients early in disease and facing co-morbid dementias.”
DISCERN relies on three independently accurate biomarkers related to synaptic function and is well positioned to help address a number of key issues that payers, providers and patients face when it comes to getting a definitive diagnosis for AD early in the patient journey.
Amato explains, “DISCERN is now on track to help reduce the burden of diagnosing AD on patients and their families, clinicians and the overall healthcare system. With demand for a simpler and more definitive approach to early-stage identification of AD at an all-time high, this non-invasive test reinforces the Company’s focus on supporting the most cost-effective management treatment decisions for people living with AD.”
SDx and DISCERN have achieved important milestones that include:
- DISCERN is the first AD test of its kind to earn Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) Code 206U and 207U. These codes and their associated reimbursement position DISCERN as a critical, essential component of patient-centric, value-based strategies for providers and payers by providing the code necessary for reimbursement.
- DISCERN has received Breakthrough Designation by the Food & Drug Administration.
- In October 2021, SDx announced the close of its Series A $10 million investment, including private equity, individual and family funds, and corporate investors. Proceeds will be used to scale-up production and meet market demand for DISCERN.
- The Company has opened a new, high-tech lab at Greencourt Innovation Center (GIC) for the launch of DISCERN.
- In December 2021, the Company announced the creation of an Advisory Council comprised of powerhouse leaders in healthcare innovation: Michael Gorton, founding CEO, Teladoc and CEO, Recuro Health, Wayne Jenkins, MD, MPH, physician executive, Frederick Huie, MD, general surgeon in New York, New York and Dave Rosa, president and CEO, NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation.
To further propel its strategic positioning and commercialization of DISCERN, SDx has retained Outcome Capital to explore opportunities for investment, collaboration and distribution partners. Outcome Capital is a highly specialized life sciences and healthcare advisory and investment banking firm, providing innovative companies with a value-added, market-aligned approach to mergers & acquisitions, partnering and corporate finance. The firm leverages its proven “strategy-led execution” approach to value enhancement by assisting management teams and their boards in navigating both financial and corporate markets and implementing the best path for success.
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DataLink Presents at RISE National 2022: Highlights Components of Robust Vendor Management Program for Demonstrating Value Proposition
TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DataLink Software (DataLink), a leading provider of integrated population health applications and value-based care performance management solutions, will present at RISE National 2022, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 11:35 a.m-12:20 p.m. (EST). During the session, “Realizing the Return: Ensuring Service Providers Deliver Value,” a panel of thought leaders from DataLink, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and FTI Consulting will examinethe components of a strong vendor management program. Topics include financial accountability to help clients understand the value proposition of a platform, strategies employed to increase value and how to create a process to measure return, including translating platform usage statistics to value.
“We’re excited to share key insights on how to best address key industry challenges facing Medicare Advantage (MA) professionals who are attending RISE National,” says Kevin Steele, chief executive officer, DataLink. “This event will be timely and strategic, including innovative opportunities for overcoming the long-term effects of COVID-19 on patient health, issues related to MA plans and ongoing compliance with new regulations in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.”
“Realizing the Return: Ensuring Service Providers Deliver Value” features Wayne Gibson, senior managing director, Health Solutions, FTI Consulting; Laurin Dixon, lead executive, Medicare Products, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield; and Michael Schopke, chief growth officer, DataLink Software.
RISE National 2022 is centered around quality face-to-face time for peer-to-peer exchange and benchmarking, as well as essential regulatory and compliance updates, digital health care delivery trends, and a focus on breaking down silos to create a unified vision among teams.
Steele adds, “DataLink’s Evoke360’s risk adjustment engine manages current, projected and suspected conditions and values, empowering better health for value-based care initiatives by offering interoperability in a payer-agnostic, meaningful use-certified point-of-care solution.”
About DataLink Software
Founded in 2001, DataLink is a healthcare technology company that empowers better health by delivering real-time data aggregation, EHR connectivity, and dynamic dashboards and reporting to payers, providers and care partners. DataLink promotes the collaboration of multiple stakeholders across the care continuum, providing a holistic, real-time view of the entire spectrum of patient data, and its intelligent, data-driven solutions drive value by reducing the cost of care, improving quality scores, ensuring risk adjustment accuracy, and simplifying healthcare navigation. For more information, visit www.datalinksoftware.com.
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Teladoc to partner with Amazon on Alexa-enabled virtual visits
By Kat Jercich
HealthcareITNews.com— Teladoc Health announced this week that it was partnering with Amazon to launch voice-activated virtual care on Alexa-supported Echo devices.
According to the companies, U.S. customers around the country can connect with a Teladoc provider via audio at any time for general medical needs.
“By introducing and integrating our virtual-first care experience with Echo devices, we are providing an innovative and convenient way for users to connect with a doctor,” Donna Boyer, chief product officer at Teladoc Health, said in a statement.
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COVID has taken severe mental health toll: WHO
By Medical Xpress
MedicalXpress.com— The COVID pandemic has taken a dire toll on mental health, the WHO said Wednesday, indicating that cases of anxiety and depression had swelled by over 25 percent globally.
In a fresh scientific brief, the World Health Organization also found that the COVID-19 crisis had in many cases significantly impeded access to mental health services and raised concerns about increases in suicidal behaviour.
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Another life-saving Covid drug identified
By Michelle Roberts
BBC.com— The anti-inflammatory baricitinib is normally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Trials suggest it can cut death risk by about a fifth in patients needing hospital care for severe Covid.
It could be used with other Covid treatments, such as the cheap steroid dexamethasone, to save even more lives, researchers say.
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Are Health Care Apps in Your Future?
By HealthDay News
USnews.com— Are you managing a chronic health problem, be it obesity or diabetes or heart disease or asthma?
There’s likely an app for that.
Health apps are becoming more and more sophisticated, offering smartphone users help in dealing with chronic ailments, said Dr. David Bates, chief of internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and an internationally renowned expert in patient safety and health care technology.
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For Older Americans, Some Positive Health News
By Paula Span
NYTimes.com— The Covid pandemic has presented older Americans with plenty of grim news, from staffing shortages in long-term care and hospices to the punishing effects of loneliness and isolation. But there have been encouraging developments too — the kind of incremental progress that can take years to achieve, as lawsuits wend their way through courts, bills die in state legislatures and rise again, and the pandemic complicates everything.
The results are not always dramatic, but they can improve lives and health for older people, especially those with low income.
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