ARLINGTON, Va. and BOSTON, Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance) and the newly formed Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA) today announced a strategic partnership to further establish the field of digital therapeutics. This partnership will combine the infrastructure, reach and resources of PCHAlliance and the expertise, thought leadership, and focus of DTA.

Announced at the 9th annual Connected Health Conference in Boston during the Life Sciences and MedTech Roundtable, PCHAlliance has also launched a new Digital Therapeutics Task Force. The task force will draw on DTA's subject matter expertise to focus on an initial set of high priority projects for both organizations. The task force will be open to PCHAlliance member companies, as well as allied associations and non-corporate thought leaders by invitation only. Pierre Leurent, CEO of Voluntis, a PCHAlliance member organization, and one of the founding members of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance, will serve as the task force chair.

"Digital therapeutics is an emerging trend, based on the idea that technology can improve an individual's health as much as a drug can, as well as increase the efficacy of drug therapies. Digital therapeutics companies are proving, via rigorous clinical studies – and even regulatory approval – that connected health technologies can provide measurable clinical benefit, at least as good as some medication," said Patty Mechael, PhD, MHS, Executive Vice President, PCHAlliance. "We are pleased to partner with the Digital Therapeutics Alliance to combine our resources to advance the field, galvanize key stakeholders, focus on developing standards of quality and work towards improving health outcomes through this newly developing sub-domain of personal connected health."

A recent analyst report predicted that the digital therapeutics market will reach about $9 billion by 2025.The term "digital therapeutics" refers to digital technology or software to treat a medical condition, used alone and in combination with conventional drug therapies. Digital therapeutics include mobile apps, wearable sensors, health monitoring devices or software that can change an individual's behavior in order to achieve positive clinical outcomes and, thereby better control the cost of care.

"Digital therapeutics companies are developing clinically validated tools that are improving value and lowering costs. These companies are harnessing the power of digital tools to improve disease management," added Pierre Leurent. "The field is evolving, so there is a need for digital therapeutics companies to come together, to clearly delineate the market, define the benefits and secure regulatory, reimbursement, provider and policy support."

About the Digital Therapeutics Alliance
The Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA) represents the healthcare industry's leading manufacturers of clinically validated digital therapeutic (DTx) solutions. DTA's mission is to broaden the understanding, adoption, and integration of digital therapeutic solutions into mainstream healthcare through education, advocacy, and research. DTA members and partners – including patients, healthcare providers, payers, academic institutions, technology organizations, and pharmaceutical manufacturers – collaborate to enhance patient outcomes through assessing the value and impact of DTx solutions in clinical practice, constructing industry and regulatory frameworks, and encouraging data-driven integration and utilization of DTx solutions across the healthcare industry. For more information visit: www.dtxalliance.org

About the Personal Connected Health Alliance
The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance) aims to make health and wellness an effortless part of daily life. The PCHAlliance, a non-profit organization formed by HIMSS, believes that health is personal and extends beyond healthcare. The Alliance mobilizes a coalition of stakeholders to realize the full potential of personal connected health. PCHAlliance members are a vibrant ecosystem of technology and life sciences industry icons and innovative, early stage companies along with governments, academic institutions, and associations from around the world. To support its vision, PCHAlliance convenes the global personal connected health community at the annual Connected Health Conference, the premier international event for the exchange of research, evidence, ideas, innovations and opportunities in personal connected health. The Alliance publishes and promotes adoption of the Continua Design Guidelines. Continua is recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the international standard for safe, secure, and reliable exchange of data to and from personal health devices. PCHAlliance accelerates technical, business, policy and social strategies necessary to advance personal connected health through its Healthy Longevity initiative to promote lifelong health and wellness.

SOURCE Personal Connected Health Alliance

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http://www.pchalliance.org