European digital health coaching company, Liva Healthcare and global biotechnology organisation, Amgen, have announced a partnership to make cardiac rehabilitation accessible to patients following a heart attack.

The collaboration will enable the companies to develop Rehab+, a digital tele-rehabilitation solution that allows patients to assess their lifestyle post-heart attack.

The new platform is part of OPTIMISE, an Amgen-led cardiovascular programme which aims to transform patient care and demonstrate improvement in outcomes through a range of initiatives which support patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.  

To develop Rehab+, Amgen also partnered with rehabilitation hospitals in Spain, including La Paz in Madrid, Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Virgen de la Victoria in Malaga and Zuyderland in the Netherlands. 

Rehab+ is endorsed by the Spanish Society of Cardiology (SEC), Netherlands Society of Cardiology (NVVC) and Foro Español de Pacientes (Spanish Patients Forum). 

Amgen Europe and Amgen Spain will be programme leaders whilst Liva Healthcare will provide the technology and the patient app.

WHY IT MATTERS

With a focus on promoting self-care, Rehab+ supports patients for over one year, helping them to take control of their own recovery treatment plan after experiencing a heart attack.

Through the platform, users are able to set personal objectives to reduce their cardiac risk, and establish lifestyle changes accordingly. Rehab+ aims to equip patients to stay engaged with their own health in real-time and to manage their cardiac risk factors as a chronic condition to prevent a next heart attack. 

Through the app, patients will receive support from a professional coach and receive educational content based on their personal needs. 

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Health recently announced that Rehab+ won the Education Award. This will enable the app to be launched in four rehabilitation centres across Spain and the Netherlands and evaluated by Maastricht University. Based on the scientific evaluation, further uptake of Rehab+ in additional countries will be discussed.  

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Earlier this year, Liva Healthcare raised €24.5 million in a Series B round to drive European leadership in digital chronic disease prevention and management.

Meanwhile, the EU has approved an AI technology that can identify people at risk of a fatal heart attack, years before it happens. The CaRi-Heart technology utilises coronary CT angiogram (CTTA) scans already performed in clinical practice.

ON THE RECORD

André Sode, CEO of Liva Healthcare said: “Amgen is addressing a significant gap in cardiac recovery. We are delighted to partner with Amgen, and a powerful collective of purpose-driven organisations, to help improve the lives of people who have had a heart attack.

“By combining our technology and the expertise of Amgen and the consortium of partners, we can make cardiac rehabilitation easily accessible to more people, empowering them to stay engaged with their own health and, ultimately, reduce their risk of a next heart attack.” 

Roman Stampfli, vice president marketing and innovation at Amgen said: “Only a third of the one million people who have a heart attack each year in Europe have access to cardiac rehabilitation to reduce their risk of a second heart attack.

“This partnership is part of our commitment to make cardiac rehabilitation accessible to more patients in the immediate aftermath of a heart attack. By working with Liva Healthcare and this consortium of EU partners, we can co-create an innovative digital tele-rehab solution that helps people establish long-lasting lifestyle changes.”