Roche has acquired MySugr, a privately held digital diabetes management player, for an undisclosed sum. MySugr’s apps will become a “focal part” of Roche’s strategy for integrated diabetes management.
Founded in 2012, in Vienna, MySugr focuses on app-based care for people with diabetes. Its offerings include the eponymous MySugr app, which automatically syncs data from a range of diabetes devices and provides feedback and motivation to help people manage their disease. It is available in 52 countries and 13 languages.
A user may purchase a “pro” version of the app with additional functions, such as bolus calculation and access to a certified diabetes educator, who gives personalized advice based on the individual’s diabetes data.
The company also offers some web apps and a pair of iOS apps, including a “scanner” app that allows users to transfer data from their blood glucose meter to the mySugr app by taking a picture of the meter’s screen.
“We are excited about this agreement, as we will be able to offer seamlessly accessible patient solutions within an open platform to better respond to the unmet needs of people with diabetes. Our aim is to support people with diabetes to spend more time in their ideal glucose target range and improve their quality of life,” said Roche Diabetes Care CEO Roland Diggelmann, in a statement.
MySugr counts Roche Venture Fund and iSeed Ventures among its investors.
The deal comes 4 months after reports emerged that the Swiss pharma was “considering options” for its diabetes care business, including a spinoff or a sale. At the time, Diggelmann put the rumors to rest, saying Roche was on the hunt for deals to prop up diabetes care, the sales of which sank 4% in fiscal 2016 thanks to pricing pressure in the U.S.
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