When Sean Duffy, the cofounder and CEO of a digital-health startup called Omada Health, took his first look at the results of his new diabetes-treatment program, he noticed a disturbing trend.

Many of the individuals weren't simply fighting diabetes or obesity. They were also battling psychological issues like depression and anxiety, and those conditions were making their obesity-related symptoms worse.

Duffy wondered if there was more Omada could do to help treat those psychological issues.

So roughly a year ago, he and his team began drafting plans for a program that would focus exclusively on depression and anxiety, while also giving existing customers access to a wider range of mental-health tools. Duffy officially announced the program, which includes a partnership with a mental-health startup called Lantern, on Monday.
​
Read More: ​https://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-diabetes-startup-omada-now-tackling-depression-lantern-2019-1

BOSTON, Jan. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) recently added two new digital health solutions to its Emerging Solutions portfolio—Robin Care for cancer support and Hinge Health for musculoskeletal conditions such as back and knee pain.

The company introduced Emerging Solutions earlier this year to find innovative digital solutions and advise employer customers on options to help improve their employees' health and lower costs. Blue Cross launched the portfolio with solutions for diabetes management (Livongo and Omada) and fertility, pregnancy and parenting (Ovia Health).

According to the National Business Group on Health 2019 Large Employer Health Care Strategy & Plan Design Survey, more than 50% of large employers plan to implement more virtual care solutions as their top initiative in 2019, with specific interest in behavioral health, lifestyle coaching, musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes management and physical therapy. 

Read More: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-cross-blue-shield-of-massachusetts-adds-two-new-digital-health-solutions-for-large-self-insured-clients-300774917.html

Transcarotid artery revascularization with a neuroprotection system was associated with a low rate of stroke in patients with carotid artery stenosis, according to 1-year results of the ROADSTER trial.

As Cardiology Today’s Intervention previously reported, transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) with a neuroprotection system (Enroute, Silk Road Medical) was associated with lower 30-day stroke and death rates compared with traditional carotid stenting

For the present analysis, researchers analyzed 165 patients (112 from pivotal phase; 53 from extended-access cohort; mean age, 74 years; 65% men; 80% asymptomatic) with carotid artery stenosis at high risk for endarterectomy.

According to the researchers, high-risk anatomic factors included 11% of patients with contralateral carotid artery occlusion, 1.8% with tandem stenosis greater than 70%, 25% with high cervical carotid artery stenosis, 25.6% with restenosis after carotid endarterectomy, 4.3% with bilateral stenosis requiring treatment and 14.6% with a hostile neck. In addition, some patients had high-risk cardiac factors, including 14% with coronary disease in two or more vessels and a history of angina.

Read More: ​https://www.healio.com/cardiac-vascular-intervention/cerebrovascular/news/online/%7bf2df72f5-1e66-4685-bf00-5eb0939230d4%7d/novel-transcarotid-device-yields-low-stroke-rate-during-carotid-artery-stenting

​Phase 1a Dose-Escalation Data Demonstrates a Favorable Safety Profile and Signals of Immune Cell Modulation in Patients with Late Stage Solid Tumors

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and WASHINGTON, Nov. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMED), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics, today announced initial results from the Phase 1a dose escalation portion of a Phase 1a/b trial of etigilimab, the company’s anti-TIGIT antibody. TIGIT (T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) is a next generation checkpoint receptor shown to block T-cell activation and the body’s natural anti-cancer immune response. OncoMed’s anti-TIGIT checkpoint inhibitor candidate is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody which binds to the human TIGIT receptor on T-cells with a goal of improving the activation and effectiveness of T-cell and NK cell tumor-killing activity. The data were presented today at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer meeting taking place in Washington, D.C.

Read More: ​​https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/11/09/1648928/0/en/OncoMed-Announces-Early-Clinical-Data-for-anti-TIGIT-Antibody.html

Overall Clinical Benefit Rate of 85%, Partial Response Rate of 42% and Progression Free Survival of 5.4 Months Observed in Patients with > 2 Prior Therapies and/or Prior Bevacizumab

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics, today announced interim results from its ongoing Phase 1b trial investigating navicixizumab, OncoMed's anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody, in combination with paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

The interim results were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology in Munich. The patients had received a median of four prior therapies, all of whom had received prior paclitaxel and 69% had received prior bevacizumab. Twentytwo of the 26 patients (85%) treated with the novel regimen experienced clinical benefit. Notably 11 of the 26 patients (42%) achieved a partial response and the median progression-free survival was 5.4 months (95% CI: 3.5-8.0 months). Historical response rates for patients with heavily pretreated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer treated with chemotherapy are typically 15% or less.

Read More: https://oncomed.gcs-web.com/static-files/ce0dd21c-2466-40d8-85de-2c79d7c0f87d

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Priority Health announced it will offer a new digital prevention tool to help members manage their diabetes. Through its partnership with Omada Health, Priority Health will provide clinically-eligible members access to Omada, the country’s leading digital Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), beginning this month. Priority Health is the first health plan in Michigan to add the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fully recognized digital Diabetes Prevention Program as a preventive benefit.

Omada offers an evidence-based digital program that empowers people to make sustainable behavioral changes and lower their risk of chronic disease. The company offers an adaptable intervention for employees or members at risk for obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Leveraging social connectivity, professional health coaches, engaging curriculum, and connected tools, the Omada program is now available to most Priority Health commercial members with prediabetes or at-risk to develop type 2 diabetes.

Read More: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181003005495/en/Priority-Health-Offer-Omada-Health-Virtual-Diabetes

Objective Responses Observed in Heavily-pretreated Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated with Navicixzumab Monotherapy

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics, today announced that the results of its Phase 1a study with single-agent navicixizumab in patients with refractory solid tumors were published in Investigational New Drugs. The results showed that 19 of the 66 patients with various types of refractory solid tumors had tumor shrinkage following treatment with navicixizumab. Notably, 3 of the 12 (25%) ovarian cancer patients treated in the trial achieved a partial response with single-agent navicixizumab therapy. Navicixizumab is a bispecific antibody that was designed to enhance the anti-tumor effect observed with inhibition of DLL4 or VEGF alone.

"These study results demonstrate that navicixizumab has single-agent anti-tumor activity in several tumor types and is particularly active in heavily pretreated ovarian cancer, a cancer with limited treatment options," said John Lewicki, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of OncoMed. "We look forward to presenting interim data from our Phase 1b study, which is evaluating navicixizumab in combination with paclitaxel in patients with heavily pretreated platinum-resistant ovarian cancer at the upcoming European Society of Medical Oncology meeting."

Read More: http://cms2.oncomed.com/investors/static-files/176ae2d5-55fe-4627-ade0-61582eb12bde

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) announced the launch of Cigna Ventures, a corporate venture fund focused on transformative and innovative health care companies.

Cigna has committed $250 million of capital to Cigna Ventures to invest in promising startups and growth-stage companies that are unlocking new growth possibilities in health care and will bring improved care quality, affordability, choice, and greater simplicity to customers and clients. Cigna Ventures is focused on companies across three strategic areas: insights and analytics; digital health and retail; and care delivery/management.

“Cigna’s commitment to improving the health, well-being and sense of security of the people we serve is at the front and center of everything we do,” said Tom Richards, senior vice president and global lead, strategy and business development at Cigna. “The venture fund will enable us to drive innovation beyond our existing core business operations, and incubate new ideas, opportunities and relationships that have the potential for long-term business growth and to help our customers.”

Read More: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180912005161/en/Cigna-Announces-Cigna-Ventures-250-Million-Fund

Inside the San Francisco offices of Omada Health, there’s a tongue-in-cheek term used to describe the company: provendor.

The mashup moniker has filtered all the way down from the company’s CEO to its clients as a way to describe a digital health company that’s equal parts chronic care provider and tech-savvy vendor.

It's an apt description. Omada has made its name with sophisticated analytics, IoT gadgetry (including a digital scale) and mobile solutions designed to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease with a 16-week program focused on weight loss. But the company also has a national provider identifier, CPT codes, the blessing of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and bills claims as if it were a hospital.

Read More: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/omada-health-diabetes-digital-health-operational-innovation-cigna-bcbs-minnesota-sean-duffy

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. OMED, +6.44% a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics, today announced that John Lewicki, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of OncoMed, will provide a corporate update at two upcoming investor conferences. 

• Wells Fargo Securities 2018 Healthcare Conference in Boston, MA on September 5, 2018 at 9:40 am Eastern Time
• 20 [th] Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference, sponsored by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC in New York, NY on September 6, 2018 at 4:40 pm Eastern Time

​To access the live webcasts and subsequent archived recordings of these and other company presentations, please visit OncoMed's website at www.oncomed.com/invest/events.cfm. A replay of each presentation will be available for 30 days following the date of the event.

Read More: https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/oncomed-to-present-at-two-upcoming-investor-conferences-in-september-2018-08-29