Digital chronic condition management company DarioHealth has entered into a $30 million strategic partnership with biopharma giant Sanofi to speed adoption of Dario's suite of tools in the U.S.

The agreement with the multinational pharma company's U.S. division will focus on "significantly" expanding Dario's sales to health plans and to select employers. The deal also allows the companies to develop new or improved tools for Dario's platform and work on research to support commercialization of those digital therapeutics.

"Dario's proven digital therapeutic solutions and innovative technologies provide the perfect complement to Sanofi's scientific expertise, market access and scale, creating a foundation for long-term success in support of Sanofi's goal of expanding into digital health therapies for chronic conditions," Dario CEO Erez Raphael said in a statement.

WHY IT MATTERS

The companies are positioning the partnership as a way to speed adoption for digital therapeutics treating chronic conditions, which are widespread in the U.S. and drive the majority of healthcare expenditure. 

Dario's platform includes tools for managing diabetes, hypertension, weight, musculoskeletal conditions and behavioral health concerns. 

"Our collaboration with Dario is another step towards accelerating Sanofi's mission of reversing the course of chronic diseases through the integration of healthcare and technology in a way that gives people the tools to improve their health," Gustavo Pesquin, head of U.S. general medicines at Sanofi, said in a statement. 

"We are excited to help payers realize the potential digital health can bring to the patient experience, and we look forward to continuing to innovate with Dario on the next generation of chronic condition therapies."

THE LARGER TREND

This isn't the first partnership between digital health and pharma. Earlier this year, Swedish startup Alex Therapeutics announced a strategic commercial agreement with Pfizer focused on creating digital therapeutics for nicotine addiction, initially in Germany. 

Consumer genetics company 23andMe recently extended their drug discovery partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, a deal that began in 2018. Though the partnership dissolved in 2019, Pear Therapeutics had a commercialization partnership with Novartis for its reSET and reSET-O prescription digital therapeutics.

In 2019, Sanofi entered into a deal with Happify Health focused on treating anxiety and depression in multiple sclerosis patients. It also recently entered into a deal with Exscientia focused on AI-enabled drug discovery. 

Dario meanwhile has been expanding its platform's clinical purview. In January 2021, it bought into the digital MSK space by acquiring Upright Technologies and launched its tool, Dario Move, in October. It also scooped up digital mental health company wayForward in May.