New Partnership Integrates AspyreRx Digital Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

In January 2024, Better Therapeutics Inc. and Glooko Inc. announced a partnership to integrate Better Therapeutics’ AspyreRx™ digital behavioral treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D) into Glooko’s diabetes management platform. In the press release, the company described AspyreRx as “the first prescription-only digital therapeutic to treat adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). AspyreRx is backed by robust data demonstrating clinically meaningful and sustained reduction in A1c and improvements in other markers of cardiometabolic health when used up to 180 days. Using proven techniques that target the underlying psychological, behavioral, and cognitive factors that sustain or worsen T2D, AspyreRx is a self-paced, engaging experience that patients can access from their smartphone.”¹

AspyreRx enables health care providers in the US who use the Glooko platform to identify suitable patients for AspyreRx, facilitate prescriptions, and track patients through their treatment. Users can access a clinically proven 90-day behavioral treatment conveniently on their smartphone. For T2D, users can dive into an interactive, structured approach that helps them identify and transform unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors contributing to diabetes. Additionally, the treatment empowers positive change by allowing users to develop the skills and confidence needed to improve their diabetes. More information can be found here.²

Glooko’s solutions aided over 3.4 million people with diabetes and are utilized in nearly 5,000 clinic locations.1

“We are very pleased to partner with Better Therapeutics to add AspyreRx to the Glooko platform,” stated Russ Johannesson, CEO of Glooko. “This partnership will facilitate access to an important new treatment option for healthcare providers in the Glooko network, enabling them to better manage their patient populations and enhance health outcomes for patients with T2D.”¹

Frank Karbe, CEO of Better Therapeutics, said, “Glooko is an ideal partner for us to support the adoption of AspyreRx, given the extensive overlap between providers using the Glooko platform and those we have identified as early adopters for AspyreRx. Glooko’s precision engagement has the potential to accelerate access to AspyreRx for patients who may benefit from this innovative new treatment.”¹

Viewpoints from Health Care Providers and Patients About AspyreRx^3,4

Medical Doctor stated, “A comprehensive management approach that combines effective pharmacotherapy along with effective digital therapeutics to support patients in making and sustaining behavioral change appears to be an optimal approach to achieving treatment goals.”

Medical Doctor stated, “The cornerstone of modern diabetes care is helping to improve self-efficacy, and AspyreRx now provides a prescription tool for physicians that seamlessly integrates with existing disease management programs to help patients make and sustain meaningful changes to improve their overall health.”

Patient with diabetes stated, “I'm ready to talk to my health care provider about how AspyreRx could help me manage my diabetes.” Patient with diabetes stated, “I have already started making lifestyle changes to better manage my diabetes, and I could benefit from a more structured approach.”

Conclusion

Patients with diabetes often struggle with maintaining good glycemic control due to various reasons, such as lack of self-care, insufficient knowledge, and inability to adopt recommended behavioral changes.5,6 Several studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions can help reduce HbA1c levels in diabetic patients by 0.3% to 1.6%.^7,8

Digital therapeutics that deliver such interventions can increase access to care by overcoming physical location and scheduling constraints. One study suggested that digital therapeutics delivering cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce HbA1c levels by 1.1% within 3 months of use, making them a promising tool for improving glycemic control in adults with diabetes.⁹ AspyreRx is a smartphone program that targets the underlying psychological, behavioral, and cognitive factors that worsen T2D.

References

1. Better Therapeutics and Glooko announce partnership to accelerate adoption of AspyreRx to treat type 2 diabetes in the United States. News release. Businesswire. Published January 4, 2024. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240103238870/en/
2. Embark on a life-changing journey with AspyreRx™. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://www.aspyrerx.com/
3. Better Therapeutics announces new data highlighting concurrent use of AspyreRx and GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat type 2 diabetes. News release. Better Therapeutics. Published October 11, 2023. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://investors.bettertx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/better-therapeutics-announces-new-data-highlighting-concurrent
4. Better Therapeutics' first digital app earns FDA De Novo Nod in type 2 diabetes. News release. Fierce Biotech. Published July 11, 2023. Accessed January 11, 2024. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/better-therapeutics-first-digital-therapeutic-earns-fda-de-novo-nod-help-treat-type-2
5. Young-Hyman D, de Groot M, Hill-Briggs F, Gonzalez JS, Hood K, Peyrot M. Psychosocial care for people with diabetes: A position statement of the American Diabetes Association [published correction appears in Diabetes Care. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(12):2126-2140. doi:10.2337/dc16-2053
6. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Facilitating behavior change and well-being to improve health outcomes: Standards of medical care in diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Suppl 1):S60-S82. doi:10.2337/dc22-S005
7. Yang X, Li Z, Sun J. Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention on improving glycaemic, psychological, and physiological outcomes in adult patients with diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:711. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00711
8. Chapman A, Liu S, Merkouris S, et al. Psychological interventions for the management of glycemic and psychological outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China: A systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Front Public Health. 2015;3:252. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2015.00252
9. Berman MA, Guthrie NL, Edwards KL, et al. Change in glycemic control with use of a digital therapeutic in adults with type 2 diabetes: Cohort study. JMIR Diabetes. 2018;3(1):e4. doi:10.2196/diabetes.9591