BehaVR and Sumitomo Look to Help Patients Beat Anxiety with VR
Niko Pajkovic — November 29, 2021 — Tech
References: behavr & healthtechinsider
BehaVR, an American therapeutic virtual reality company, has partnered with Japan-based Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. to develop new prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) for common mental health disorders. The collaboration will see BehaVR leverage its VR therapy technology through Sumitomo's expertise in developing novel prescriptions.
According to a recent press release, the partners plan to pursue FDA approval for three PDTs targeting three separate disorders: social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and major depressive disorder. These innovative solutions will all utilize VR technology and gamification structures to help patients prevent, treat, and manage these disorders.
BehaVR's therapeutic offerings currently implement a proprietary protocol known as stress, anxiety, and fear extinction (S.A.F.E.), which is used to help patients build long-term resiliency skills. Although specific details have not been revealed by the company, it is likely that their collaborative solutions will build on this already established protocol.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
According to a recent press release, the partners plan to pursue FDA approval for three PDTs targeting three separate disorders: social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and major depressive disorder. These innovative solutions will all utilize VR technology and gamification structures to help patients prevent, treat, and manage these disorders.
BehaVR's therapeutic offerings currently implement a proprietary protocol known as stress, anxiety, and fear extinction (S.A.F.E.), which is used to help patients build long-term resiliency skills. Although specific details have not been revealed by the company, it is likely that their collaborative solutions will build on this already established protocol.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Trend Themes
1. Gamified Virtual Reality Therapy - Using virtual reality and gamification to treat mental health disorders shows potential for disruptive innovation in therapeutic treatments.
2. Prescription Digital Therapeutics - Collaborations between digital therapeutic companies and pharma companies can lead to FDA-approved treatments for mental health disorders.
3. Stress, Anxiety, and Fear Extinction Protocol - Further development and implementation of the proprietary S.A.F.E. protocol can lead to more effective long-term resiliency skills therapy.
Industry Implications
1. Therapeutic Virtual Reality - The intersection of technology and therapy opens up new opportunities for therapeutic virtual reality companies to partner with pharma companies.
2. Digital Therapeutics - The development of prescription digital therapeutics for mental health disorders presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the healthcare industry.
3. Pharmaceuticals - Collaborations with digital therapeutic companies can lead to the development of new FDA-approved treatments for mental health disorders and provide new opportunities for pharmaceutical companies.
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