Last month, an app called Rejoyn became the first FDA-approved prescription digital therapeutic for patients with major depressive disorder. The app, which changes users’ behavior through various lessons and exercises, was developed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Click Therapeutics.
On Monday, Otsuka announced that it is launching a new data- and technology-focused subsidiary that will market Rejoyn — as well as other digital therapeutics and connected health products down the road. The new company, called Otsuka Precision Health, is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical.
Rejoyn is a six-week program intended to be used alongside antidepressants. The app uses clinically validated cognitive emotional training to target parts of the brain affected by depression and reduce symptoms over time, explained Sanket Shah, president of Otsuka Precision Health.
Once Rejoyn is available for download this summer, users will be able to follow instructions for a virtual consultation. Their prescription is then filled and they receive an access code from a pharmacy, Shah explained. As soon as they receive the code, they can enter it directly into the app and access the program immediately.
Shah and the rest of the Otsuka Precision Health team are currently working to ensure Rejoyn is both accessible and affordable for patients — steps that other digital therapeutics companies often fail to implement, he noted.
“Our current focus is on bringing Rejoyn to the US market and expanding our patient experience services,” he said. “We believe in the significant role that technology can play in patients’ lives to better understand their individual condition and the care teams that surround them throughout the healthcare experience. Based on this understanding, we design our programs to better connect, engage and personalize care wherever possible.”
From Shah’s perspective, the market has seen disproportionate demand for alternative therapies and treatments in recent years. He emphasized that patients are looking for ways to overcome common and often overlooked barriers to care.
More connected care plans offer the opportunity to meet this need through more personalized and data-driven care, Shah added.
“With Rejoyn’s approval serving as a testament to OPH’s capabilities in the market, it is an exciting time for the company to continue to pursue advanced technologies and more precise approaches to revolutionize an industry that is adapting to accelerated change “, he said.
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