CureApp

CureApp, Inc. is a Japanese MedTech company founded in 2014 by two physicians, Kohta Satake and Shin Suzuki, that develops and provides prescription digital therapeutics (DTx). Satake, a respiratory physician, and Suzuki, a doctor and programmer, established the company to create a third line of treatment beyond pharmaceuticals and medical devices, utilizing software as a new tool for curing diseases. Satake's experience as a clinician and his studies abroad, including an MBA in Shanghai and a Master of Public Health in the United States, inspired the venture.

The company's business model centers on developing evidence-based therapeutic applications prescribed by healthcare providers to treat conditions not effectively managed by conventional methods alone. These apps provide personalized guidance and interventions based on patient-inputted data, aiming to encourage behavioral changes and improve lifestyle habits. CureApp's products are designed for both patients and physicians; a patient-facing app offers tailored support, while a corresponding doctor-facing app or dashboard allows medical professionals to monitor progress between visits. The company generates revenue through insurance reimbursement for its approved therapeutic apps. In Japan, patients are typically responsible for a portion of the cost.

CureApp achieved a significant milestone in August 2020 when its nicotine addiction treatment app, "CureApp SC," became the first DTx application to receive regulatory approval in Japan. This was followed by insurance coverage in December 2020. In April 2022, the company received the world's first regulatory approval for a hypertension digital therapeutic, "CureApp HT," which also gained insurance coverage later that year. The company is actively developing a pipeline of other DTx solutions for conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alcohol addiction, cancer, chronic heart failure, and chronic low back pain, often in partnership with pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions. In addition to its prescription offerings, CureApp provides mobile health programs for corporate wellness initiatives.

Since its first funding round in October 2015, CureApp has raised a total of $101 million over six rounds. Its latest funding was a Series G round in August 2022. The company's investors include The Carlyle Group, ITV, Dai-Ichi Life, and Mizuho Bank. Headquartered in Tokyo, CureApp has also established a U.S. subsidiary to facilitate global expansion.

Keywords: digital therapeutics, DTx, prescription apps, hypertension, nicotine addiction, lifestyle-related diseases, software as a medical device, MedTech, behavioral change, patient monitoring, Kohta Satake, Shin Suzuki, CureApp SC, CureApp HT, NASH, alcohol addiction, oncology, corporate wellness, mobile health, clinical trials