Over the last few years, digital
therapeutics, which use software programs like video games to treat medical
conditions, have gone from largely hypothetical to US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) cleared treatments. The sector has experienced an explosion
of interest and research as tech, pharma and medtech firms realise its
potential.
With the imminent adoption of
next-generation technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR),
artificial intelligence (AI), Cloud computing and 5G, digital therapeutics will
become more sophisticated and accessible. Medical device manufacturers will
need to explore ways to combine their hardware with upcoming therapeutic
software to avoid being left behind.
The budding field of digital therapeutics
uses software programs such as video games as primary methods of delivering
evidence-based treatments for various medical disorders. Research within this
field has grown significantly over the last few years, with researchers
exploring the use of digital therapeutics in treating mental disorders such as
depression, schizophrenia and dementia as well as cardiovascular diseases
addictions and more.
For example, the FDA recently approved
EndeavorRx, a video game available on iOS that has been shown to improve
objective attention in children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder
(ADHD). In the game, the player is tasked with steering a vehicle through a
course while collecting a specific item and ignoring others. Many digital
therapeutics being researched also involve aspects of behavioural training or
modification.
Next-generation technologies will allow
such treatments to become more intricate, sophisticated and accessible. AR and
VR will allow increased patient immersion into the digital world, potentially
amplifying the effects of treatment. AI may allow the software to better adapt
to specific patients as it analyses usage data, tailoring the experience so
that treatment is more effective.
Cloud computing and 5G allow digital
treatments to be more graphically advanced and feature-rich, as processing can
be done in the cloud and sent to a variety of devices without requiring an
expensive video game console or high-end PC. They would also allow patients to
access treatments more easily as healthcare systems move to a more
decentralised system during Covid-19.
The development and commercialisation of
digital therapeutics will be a collaborative effort between multiple sectors,
including tech, pharma, medical devices, researchers and potentially video
games and digital art. As treatments are approved for a broader range of
indications, digital therapeutics are poised to become a popular treatment
option for patients and a fast-growing market for firms and investors.
Medical device manufacturers will need to
cultivate partnerships for developing such treatments that require specific
products or accessories they manufacture, such as specialised sensors or
controllers, while keeping devices affordable, in order to get into the market.
