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US telehealth company Ro is setting up a healthcare research unit that will use artificial intelligence to study patient data and generate insights for pharmaceutical companies. The move could open a new business opportunity for the company as drugmakers seek more information about how treatments perform outside clinical trials.
Ro claimed that its new research initiative will involve analyzing data that has been collected using its digital health platform, which has reached millions of patients. This analysis would involve the use of artificial intelligence in order to look at patterns in treatment and outcomes that could prove useful to insurers, drugmakers, and other healthcare professionals.
According to Ro’s CEO Zach Reitano, the analysis would assist insurance companies in determining if they should cover very expensive medications. It could also be helpful to pharmaceutical companies in understanding which patients could benefit from specific drugs.
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Ro is already discussing potential partnerships with drugmakers. Earlier this year, it began working with Amgen on research examining access to obesity treatments and the challenges patients face when seeking care.
The development comes as telehealth companies such as Ro, Hims & Hers and Noom expand their role in the market for GLP-1 weight-loss medicines. These companies connect patients with virtual healthcare providers and offer access to treatments, including drugs from major pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Ro provides cash-pay access to Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy through the companies' direct pharmacy channels. Eligible customers can also use insurance coverage. The company offers other services covering sexual health, hair loss and skincare.
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The research project will likely be more significant if some companies choose to look at the option of covering expensive weight loss drugs. According to Reitano, additional proof from real-life results will help show the benefits of these medications.
With the use of data collected through its current platform, Ro is hoping to collect evidence that will make a difference in treatment decisions, insurance coverages and development of new drugs. Its partnership with the pharmaceutical companies can also increase its presence on the growing digital healthcare market.