Digital health company Amalgam Rx is looking to the conversational AI space with the acquisition of data science-focused startup Geetha's assets.

Geetha has developed AI models that can learn about patients and health stakeholder's behavior and in turn to deliver behavior-change content.

As part of the deal, Amalgam Rx will gain the company's "psychosocial engine" which is able to use data and AI to gain insights into personality, moods and motivators of individuals in 40 languages. The idea is that through these insights, more personalized content can be delivered to the end user, and the content can be responsive to the individual's needs.

Following the acquisition, Geetha founder Bharath Sudharsan will move over to Amalgam as its chief data scientist and head of AI.

WHY IT MATTERS

In the past, Chris Bergstrom, president of Amalgam Rx, told MobiHealthNews that the company is looking to build up a digital health ecosystem that can scale. Artificial intelligence has long been hailed as a potential for scaling and personalizing care.

“Next-gen AI can deeply understand, empathize, and adapt to each person, almost like a real human friend, with the added benefits of 24/7 availability and expertly curated and safe feedback within a judgment-free space. Every time a patient connects, its rapport, relationship, and level of support can get so much better.

When we combine this new AI with Amalgam’s impressive clinical, technology, and regulatory platform/capabilities, it can lead to a deeper level of empathetic engagement, which in turn, can effect lasting change and outcomes,” Sudharsan said in a statement.  

THE LARGER TREND

This isn't Amalgam's first acquisition. In January the company bought clinical-decision-support company Avhana Health for an undisclosed sum. The tool was designed to integrate into doctor's workflows and make suggestions about patient care.

Amalgam Rx was started by WellDoc founders Ryan Sysko and Dr. Suzanne Clough. In 2017 it came up from stealth mode with an FDA clearance for iSage, and insulin-titration algorithm. Later that year the company launched an app called Beyond, which aims to help patients living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis through stress management. 

After keeping a relatively low profile for the last few years, it has surfaced with these two acquisitions.