Digital diabetes and chronic condition management company Glooko announced Monday it had acquired Berlin-based xbird, maker of AI-based diabetes care tools.

xbird monitors patients' activity with sensors and wearables, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to find potential problems and alert users to take action, like a nudge to check blood glucose levels.

"xbird and Glooko are a great fit. We share a commitment to providing solutions that address multiple chronic conditions, delivering measurable outcomes, and we have a common mission to broadly serve all patients in need," Sebastian Sujka, CEO and cofounder of xbird, said in a statement. Sujka will serve as managing director of Glooko GmbH in the combined company.

"Our goal is to continue the design of digital health solutions for those living with these conditions and to make our capabilities accessible to as many patients as possible."

WHY IT MATTERS

The CDC estimates 28.7 million people of all ages had diagnosed diabetes in 2019, nearly 9% of the U.S. population.

Glooko said it will integrate xbird's software into its platform, expanding its analytics capabilities.

"We are thrilled to welcome the xbird team to the Glooko family. Our investment in xbird represents Glooko's strategic commitment to machine learning and customized digital coaching for patients with chronic conditions," CEO Russ Johannesson said in a statement.

"Among the many JITAI [Just in Time Adaptive Intervention] companies in the digital health landscape, xbird clearly has a superior solution, and has built successful partnerships throughout diabetes device manufacturers and clinical institutions. The combination of Glooko's established global footprint and xbird's exciting JITAI capabilities will allow us to improve patient outcomes."

THE LARGER TREND

Diabetes management is a popular space for digital health and health tech. In March last year, Glooko scooped up $30 million in Series D funding, saying it would use the capital to increase adoption of its platform, broaden commercialization in clinical research and move into new clinical areas.

Another company in the space is One Drop, which has also been pushing outside the diabetes focus. In October, the company announced a new product aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease.

Welldoc's Bluestar diabetes management platform scored its ninth FDA 510(k) clearance in September for insulin dosing support for bolus and premixed insulin titration for Type 2 diabetes.

Carbon Health, a hybrid in-person and virtual-care provider, also moved into tech-enabled diabetes care last year with its acquisition of Steady Health. In December, it rolled out a metabolic health assessment program that used continuous glucose monitor data to find patients at high risk for developing diabetes.