Munich, June 2024
AsthmaTuner by Medituner is a digital solution developed in Sweden. It was created with the goals of helping patients take control of their asthma, simplifying the process and increasing efficiency for caregivers. Their innovative solution secured them the third-place in the 15th Healthcare Innovation World Cup at MEDICA 2023.
Our conversation with the MediTuner team provided valuable insights into their path to success. Let’s delve deeper into their journey.
- HOW DID IT ALL START?
The company arose from a collaboration between the Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The two founders, both having more than 20 years of experience treating patients with asthma, had the idea to develop an easy-to-use digital tool to empower patients to take control of their disease management at home. Asthma is a variable chronic disease that often require adjustments in medication for the patients to be optimally treated. AsthmaTuner, is the only tool that provides patients with instant individualized medication instructions according to international guidelines. With our tool patients can ‘tune’ their asthma medication and live symptom free lives!
- WHAT ARE THE KEY MILESTONES YOU HAVE REACHED SO FAR?
AsthmaTuner has more than 6,000 connected patients in 4 countries that receive their asthma care through our app. We are the only app with a digital sensor that is included in the national reimbursement system in Sweden. Five clinical trials have been published, showing both positive clinical outcome and health economic savings from using AsthmaTuner. We recently formed a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop smart modules to help COPD patients with their disease management.
- WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED?
We have always had a big focus on clinical evidence. Healthcare is a conservative industry, and having clinical studies that support your claims is very important for implementation in clinical practice. Another approach that we would never change is to have a strong end-user focus during the development process. Having close collaborations with patient organisations is a key to success! Implementation in healthcare takes longer than you expect, if we had to start all over again, we would set more realistic timelines for getting regulatory approvals, performing clinical studies and implementation in healthcare.
- WHAT IS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
We recently press-released our collaboration with Mayo Clinic. During the last months AsthmaTuner has been integrated with a series of machine learning algorithms developed by a research team at Mayo Clinic, with the goal to predict and prevent asthma attacks. The new AI enhanced AsthmaTuner version will be first tested on patients in a clinical trial at the children’s hospital at Mayo Clinic during the first months in 2024.
5. DESCRIBE YOUR JOURNEY IN THE INNOVATION WORLD CUP®
The innovation world cup was a very well-organized event and overall a very positive experience! The pitch competition was a big success with a large audience and experienced jury at the large medical fair MEDICA. It was very interesting to listen to the pitches of other digital health companies from around the world, with a lot of great products with a true global potential.
- YOUR THREE TIPS FOR UP-COMING STARTUPS
The pitch is only 3 minutes long, so make sure to have a very crisp message in your presentation. Stress the uniqueness of your product, and describe the potential and how it can solve big problems!
We value the compelling insights you have ve shared and look forward to seeing your future endeavors and the impressive progress you will achieve!
Visit Medituner and explore how patients can measure their own lung function and answer symptom questions.
Submit your solution and join us for the 16th Healthcare Innovation World Cup 2024. The next generation of smart health devices, medical wearables, digital biomarkers, electroceuticals, intelligent patches, and more are invited to take part – free of charge.
