YPrime, LLC, a global leader in cloud-based eClinical solutions, announced the strategic acquisition of Tryl, a software development company with a unique patient engagement solution that brings together beautiful design, dynamic personalization, and applied behavioral science that is designed to boost engagement, reduce dropouts, and deliver outcomes in clinical trials. The acquisition includes the transfer of all staff, development capabilities, and intellectual properties to YPrime, and will integrate with YPrime’s Patient Engagement Technologies solutions.

“YPrime’s major priority has always been to anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s clinical trials and create powerful eClinical tools that simplify the lives of sponsors, sites, and patients,” says Shawn Blackburn, CEO, YPrime. “This combination with Tryl helps us leap ahead in fulfilling our vision of creating the industry’s first-of-its-kind solution to help keep patients more informed and engaged throughout the entire clinical trial process, especially as our industry accelerates toward decentralized clinical trial models.”

“An ever-increasing focus on patient centricity demands an integrated approach to how patients are engaged,” says Ian Greenfield, CEO of Tryl. “This starts from the moment patients are recruited and continues throughout the entire patient journey. YPrime has a strong vision for the future and by bringing together offerings from our two companies, we can create a novel solution that takes head on the most pressing challenges associated with attracting, engaging, and retaining patients.”

Tryl’s tools provide an experience that is personalized, predictive, empathetic, and relative to the overall patient journey. Tryl’s proprietary engagement score is designed to reduce patient dropout rates. Rooted in consumer experience, the Tryl team applies proven behavioral principles from other industries (such as professional sports and consumer finance) to seek to improve patient adherence to study protocols.

Mark Maietta, President, YPrime expressed his enthusiasm, “The addition of the Tryl team and their innovative solutions will boost patient compliance and reduce attrition, and the timing is perfect. YPrime has built an enviable market position with its strong eCOA and IRT capabilities. Now we can seamlessly layer on complementary solutions to our innovative technology stack for running successful decentralized trials.”

About Tryl

Tryl applies a consumer-grade UX and proven behavioral techniques like design thinking, empathy, and social proof, to increase study compliance and guide participants through complex protocols. Predictive analytics prompt clinicians to step in before subjects drop out. This approach minimizes participants’ burden while maximizing value for sponsors and researchers.

Signify Health, Inc., a leading value-based healthcare platform that leverages advanced analytics, technology and nationwide healthcare provider networks,  announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Caravan Health, a leader in enabling accountable care organizations (ACOs) to excel in population health management and value-based payment programs, for an initial purchase price of approximately $250 million in a combination of cash and Signify Health common stock. The transaction also includes contingent additional payments of up to $50 million based on the future performance of Caravan. Caravan Health will join Signify Health in supporting a wide spectrum of advanced payment models, enabling providers to assume various levels of risk and collaborate in ways that support their goals to improve health outcomes while lowering costs across the care continuum.

This combination unites two leaders in value-based payment models covering a broad range of risk-based and shared savings models, from advanced primary care payment to specialty care bundles to total cost of care contracts. Caravan Health brings key technology, insights, and transformation services to community hospitals, physician practices and clinics looking to succeed in accountable care and other commercial risk arrangements. Signify Health brings technology, analytics, and management expertise in episodes of care and bundled payments. Together, the companies will be supporting approximately $10 billion in total medical spend under management.

Upon closing, Caravan Health and Signify Health will have one of the largest national networks of providers engaged in risk-based payment models. Beyond Signify’s current network of over 3,000 physician practices and facilities contracted in value-based arrangements, Caravan adds more than 200 health systems and 100 Federally Qualified Health Centers with more than 10,000 primary care providers that collectively manage over 500,000 patients, most of whom are medically underserved and struggle to access care. Signify is well positioned to address these persistent access issues by assisting these providers, extending their capacity to engage patients in the home and virtually through Signify Health’s national mobile network of approximately 10,000 credentialed physicians and nurse practitioners, and over 600 engagement, clinical, and social care coordinators. In conjunction with Caravan Health’s proprietary software, Signify’s mobile network can be aimed at helping the patients that need it most, extending the resources of often-stretched local care teams, and giving patients the care they need, when and where they need it.

The companies also will focus on leveraging Signify Health’s deep payor relationships to increase provider participation in, and access to, commercial value-based care programs. Combining Signify Health’s and Caravan Health’s value-based offerings increases the percentage of patients in a provider’s panel that are covered by value-based arrangements, thereby making them more attractive and helping to drive care redesign.

“A strategic focus for Signify Health has been driving more participation and success in value-based payment arrangements in alignment with our commercial payor clients. This focus also supports critical imperatives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve health equity and have everyone in Medicare fee-for-service aligned to an accountable relationship by 2030,” said Kyle Armbrester, CEO of Signify Health. “We are thrilled to welcome Caravan Health’s team as we build the infrastructure and payment models that are needed to achieve patient-centric, holistic care and better outcomes for everyone, especially the underserved.”

“This is an exciting opportunity to leverage the combined technology, tools and expertise of Caravan and Signify to all move forward toward better patient care while helping providers achieve financial sustainability,” said Lynn Barr, Founder and Chairwoman of Caravan Health. “We share with Signify Health a deep commitment to doing everything possible to help those we serve live their best life and look forward to accelerating our collective mission to create a healthcare system that works better for all of us.” Upon closing, Ms. Barr will become Chief Innovation Officer of Signify Health and Tim Gronniger, CEO of Caravan Health, will become EVP, Accountable Care and CEO of Caravan Health.

Having a great smile can do wonders for your confidence. It can make you feel like you own the room when you walk into it. Not only that but having good oral health has a big impact on your overall health as well. Your teeth and gums are one of the most important parts of keeping you healthy. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that it can seem hard to find a good dentist you can keep going to for many years. However, there are a few tips that can help you choose the right one for yourself.

1. Experience

One of the first things you need to think about when choosing a new dentist is their experience. When you choose a new dentist, you don’t want one that’s fresh out of school and still learning about real patients. Ideally, your new dentist should have some solid years under their belt practicing with some positive feedback from previous patients. As a dentist in Sunnybank puts it, extensive experience enables dentists to provide the highest standards of service for their patients. The more experience they have, the more qualified they are to treat you. There are also different types of certifications that dentists can get. If they’ve obtained any, be sure to ask about them and make sure they’re the type you want your dentist to have.

2. A Personalized Approach

Your dentist should always take the time to get to know you and your oral health history. When you’re in their office, they should be focusing on you and what’s best for your teeth and gums. If you have issues with stained teeth, the dentist should take the time to offer you advice on what you can do at home to minimize them. If you have issues with discomfort when eating, they should take the time to figure out why that might be. No two people are alike and no two mouths are alike. You need a dentist that can make your experience personal – someone who will listen to what you have to say and address your concerns accordingly. Apart from that, some dentists, even when they’ve been practicing for years, still might now have the most experience in certain fields. For example, if you have kids, you want to find a dentist that is experienced in kids’ dentistry.

3. Ask Questions

It can be pretty daunting to think about spending time with a new dentist, but it’s important that you do. They’re the professionals and you’re looking for their advice and expertise. You need to make sure they provide high-quality services and give you all the information you need before anything begins. You should feel comfortable asking questions to your prospective dentist, such as what they recommend for your teeth and gums and why, how often you should get your dental checkup, why they’re recommending a specific treatment, what they think the best option is for you, and so on. Asking questions can not only help you get a better idea of whether or not this dentist is right for you but it will also reassure them that you’re engaged in your own oral health and looking out for yourself. If the dentist seems curt and doesn’t have time to answer your questions, you might want to find a different one.

4. Price And Payment Plan

A big part of choosing the right dentist for you is making sure it’s affordable. What your insurance covers will largely dictate what dentist you should go to, but other than that there are ways you can cut costs, and save more. For example, if you have dental issues, make sure you choose a no-interest payment plan. Do they offer a cash discount? Be sure to ask about that as well. Some other things you should consider are how much you’ll pay for a dental checkup, a cavity filling, a crown, and other procedures. You shouldn’t have to break the bank just to get your teeth taken care of and there should be room for negotiation on all fronts.

5. Location and Working Hours

Depending on where you live and work, the location of your dentist might be a big deal. If you live close to them, it will be convenient for you and they’ll probably have more flexible hours so you can go in for appointments without having to worry about transportation or time off from work. Most dentists offer weekend as well as weekday appointments so even if you only have an hour for lunch, you should find a dentist that has an opening at least during the time you usually take your lunch. On the other hand, if the location isn’t important for you and if their working hours don’t work with yours, then go ahead and choose whatever is more convenient for you.

6. A Clean Office

You should look for a dentist whose office is clean and well-kept at all times. If you don’t like their office environment, chances are that they’re not going to do a good job with your teeth either. It can be quite helpful to take some time after you make an appointment and check out the dentist’s office beforehand. Look at the corners and cracks, and see how it looks. Make sure the equipment is clean and that they don’t just shove everything into a cupboard or drawer when they’re done using it. You’ll be sitting there for quite a while so you want to make sure everything’s neat and tidy – from the tools they use to their overall appearance. If they have certificates on the wall, make sure to check them out. If possible, talk to previous patients of theirs who had similar procedures done and find out how it went for them.

Oral health is very important because it affects your quality of life and how you look. You can choose the right dentist for you by looking out for these factors: experience, questions to ask, payment plan, location and working hours, and cleanliness. These considerations should help you make an informed decision about which dentist to go to so that you can have a better smile and a healthy mouth.

Obesity is a major cause of concern in the US with 67.9 percent people turning obese and a whopping 2756 deaths per million which is highest across the world.

The ongoing Covid Pandemic doesn’t seem to subside, bringing the death toll to people with comorbidities. And the CDC Director has recently added that over 75% of people who died due to Covid had comorbidities like uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, renal diseases and obesity.

Speaking on the importance of lifestyle in the prevention of diseases during Health4All Episode-17, Dr Amitav Banerjee, Prof & Head of Community Medicines, D Y Patil Medical College, Pune said, “Lifestyle changes do not only consist of diet and exercise but stepping outdoors for getting your mandatory dose of Vitamin D is also an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Your body needs adequate amounts of Vitamin D to maintain and support the immune system. Studies have shown how Vitamin D deficiencies can reduce vaccine efficacy and also increase the severity of Covid infection in individuals.”

“We have found that young adults are about 4 times more likely to have Vitamin D deficiencies as compared to older adults due to the cultural and social changes that have taken over in the past few decades. Vitamin D deficiency is directly associated with the exposure of skin to the sun. We see even the traffic police are found Vitamin D deficient despite having good exposure to sunlight. They spend reasonably good time in the sunlight but their skin and face are covered and not exposed to the sunlight,” added Dr Banerjee.

Throwing light on the reasons for obesity, Dr Banerjee said, “As per the latest data available, obesity has been turning out to be the common denominator for deaths. The USA has 67.9 per cent of obese people and 2756 deaths per million – both highest in the world. While India has a 19.7 per cent overweight population and 357 deaths per million, way less than that of the USA. With food habits gradually shifting towards the American diet, which is low in fibre and high in sugar content, the younger generation is becoming even more susceptible to obesity.

Obesity per se reduces lung function and is also a surrogate marker of other comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, etc. All these are related to lifestyle factors like physical activity, diet, tobacco, alcohol, and stress. Reducing comorbidities can ultimately help reduce Covid deaths.”

In another session on experts’ recommendation for comorbid and safety measures in Covid times of Health4All Episode-17, Dr Vikas Oswal, Managing Director, GIVA Foundation said, “Tuberculosis is one of the underlying respiratory problems that need special focus like we are paying to protect us from Covid. If the immune system is strong and TB bacteria enters your body it doesn’t affect much.”

Elaborating on the prevention and precautionary measures of Covid, Dr Prashant Saxena, Director & Head, Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Associate Director – Critical Care at Max Smart Hospital said, “Although Omicron variant of Covid is relatively milder than the previous variants, yet the optimal level of precautions needs to be taken to avoid its scourge. Don’t use the N95 mask again, after 8-9 hours of its use, you need to dispose of it off. And normal masks have to be cleaned daily, and the seal of the mask should be tightened to protect yourself from infection.”

While conducting Health Counter during Health4All Online Episode-17, Dr Swadeep Srivastava, Founder HEAL Health & HEAL Foundation said, “We have reached over 1 million people through the informative videos of 17 episodes of Health4All where over 80 public health topics have been covered. The eminent panel of experts participating in Health4All Online show for over three months, and their research-oriented health information has brought ripple effects in the lives of the people in terms of behavioural change, in choosing the right kind of treatment, and in adopting the right preventive measures, ensuring healthy living.”

The episode-18 of the ‘Health4All Online’ Weekly Show is scheduled for 13th February 2022 from 08:00 AM to 11:00 AM. ‘Sexual and reproductive health: Current status, challenges and way forward, will be the topic of discussion.’

Of all the vaccines that are available in the marketplace today, Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot has the most successful response, as it has proven to be a very lucrative option. And now the pharma giant is bringing a new antiviral pill as well. According to the CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, although Pfizer has had numerous wins throughout the pandemic, its scientists feel that it is highly unlikely that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will be fully rooted out in the coming future, which is what we at HHM Global have been reiterating, as now Omicron’s cousin BA.2 has also started spreading its wings.

Bourla, who was addressing the analysts on the fourth quarter conference call, opined that all this was because the spread of the virus across the globe makes it very difficult to contain. Bourla further added that the virus has the capacity to mutate often, and therefore it becomes tough for the companies to stay ahead of it. HHM’s outlook towards the current virus has always been based on stressing the fact that the COVID-19 mutations will be on the rise due to ideal conditions the world over. Apart from this, the natural infections that occur don’t confer the durable protection required to stall the mutations as well as their spread.

The most highlighting fact is that Pfizer’s measures to counter the pandemic have, without a shred of doubt, been outstanding for its top line. In 2021, the entire sales of the company stood at an unimaginable $81.3 billion, pushed by almost $37 billion in COVID-19 vaccine sales alone. Marching ahead, the company looks to garner $54 billion in overall sales this year due to the Comirnaty vaccine as well as its new antiviral pill, Paxlovid. If we look at the breakup of it, $32 billion is expected from the Comirnaty vaccine itself.

When it comes to Paxlovid, the company is expecting to produce 6 million courses in the first quarter of the current year. Around 30 million courses of Paxlovid are supposed to be produced in the first half of 2022, and 120 million by the end of the year. Besides the sales due to the pandemic drugs, Pfizer recorded a growth rate of 6% in 2021. Excluding COVID-19 sales, Pfizer’s full-year revenues grew 6% last year to $44.4 billion.

It is well to be taken into account that, besides the revenues that have been generated by the COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer has struggled in the prophylactic business. Even if we don’t get into the details of it, the pneumococcal shots of the Prevnar family have seen a slump of 25% in global sales from October to December last year. The company has blamed Prevnar 13 and 20 sales declines of 27% for the debacle in the fourth quarter. Just like the many drug makers who are in the vaccine game, they too have felt the pinch in the last few months since the government, as expected, prioritised vaccines and boosters before anything else.

Looking forward, Bourla is optimistic about the company’s ability to make a footprint across the decade, thanks to the COVID sales as well as the mergers and acquisitions that are taking place. As per a consensus, Pfizer’s top line may shrink from 2025 to 2030, but again, that’s inconsistent with its own vision for the future.

Beginning in 2025, the pharma giant will start facing US patent expirations for Xelijanz and Inlyta, and there are some potential LOEs lined up in the second half of the decade. The company is expected to counter all these through business development. Bourla adds that the strength of their cash flows and balance sheet gives them the comfort of pursuing new business development that may well add $25 billion to their top line expectation of 2030. Bourla expects this pace of development to go higher as he is confident that it will be a significant driver in making sure that they are a growing company even in the latter half of this decade.