San Diego-based connected sleep device maker ResMed and Alphabet's life science offshoot Verily announced the formation of Primasun, an end-to-end solution to help employers and healthcare providers identify populations at risk for complex sleep disorders.

Formed as a joint venture, Primasun will initially evaluate patients with insomnia, provide guidance to improve sleep hygiene and connect patients with certified sleep physicians who diagnose and treat sleep apnea.

The companies announced the launch of the clinical sleep care platform at the HLTH 2022 conference in Las Vegas. 

WHY IT MATTERS

A third of U.S. adults report getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, and lack of rest has been linked with chronic conditions such as heart disease, depression, diabetes and heart disease, according to the CDC.

"The clinical proof is clear: Diagnosing and treating sleep disorders can help people live healthier and longer, be safer and more present in their work and personal lives, and lower their healthcare costs," Carlos M. Nunez, M.D., chief medical officer of ResMed and Primasun board member, said in a statement. "We're thrilled to see Primasun generate greater awareness about the importance of sleep and help pave more equitable pathways for people to optimize their sleep and overall health."

THE LARGER TREND

In September, the Alphabet life science subsidiary announced a shake-up of its executive team alongside a $1 billion raise in investment led by its parent company Alphabet. The funds would expand its precision-healthcare initiatives and allow for more investment in strategic partnerships and possible acquisitions.

Verily, launched in 2015 out of Alphabet's research and development arm, then called Google X, already entered into numerous collaborations to develop health tech tools before receiving the massive investment. 

It partners with cardiac remote-monitoring platform iRhythm Technologies, which created the FDA-cleared ZEUS (Zio ECG Utilization Software) System for a-fib monitoring, and with biopharma company Sosei Heptares to discover drug candidates for immune-mediated diseases, cosmetics giant L'Oréal, the Mayo Clinic and dental company Colgate-Palmolive.

The life sciences company has also invested in the AI voice tool Syllable, biotech company EQRx and biomanufacturing startup Culture Biosciences and acquired the clinical trial management system SignalPath.

Meanwhile, connected respiratory-device maker ResMed has forged its own path in the acquisition space. In June, the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire Medifox Dan, a German out-of-hospital software company, from software investor Hg for $1 billion (€950 million) in an all-cash deal expected to close by the end of the year.

The sleep-focused company also acquired EHR maker MatrixCare in 2018, post-acute software company Brightree in 2016, and digital respiratory health company Propeller Health.