Employer health tech company Virgin Pulse has its eyes set on the diabetes space with the recent acquisition of digital therapeutic Blue Mesa Health, best known for its diabetes prevention program Transform. The financial details of the deal were not released. 

Following the announcement, Blue Mesa Health’s technology will now be rolled into a new offering called Virgin Pulse Transform. The service will be integrated in Virgin Pulse’s existing platform and come in five languages including English, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and Arabic. 

Blue Mesa Health was founded in 2015 with a focus on remote diabetes care, support and prevention. Following this acquisition, Virgin Pulse Transform will offer a 12-month home health monitoring and remote coaching program. 

WHY IT MATTERS 

Globally, Type 2 diabetes is on the rise. In 2019 approximately 463 million adults were living with diabetes, and that number is expected to soar to 700 million by 2045, according to the International Diabetes Federation. Type 2 accounts for roughly 90% of all diabetes cases. A majority (79%) of individuals with diabetes are living in low- and middle-income countries, according to the Federation. 

The new tech is being pitched as a way to support more patients with the condition and provide the service in more languages. 

THE LARGER TREND 

This is not Virgin Pulse’s first M&A in the last few years. In 2017 it merged with RedBrick Health, with the companies keeping the name Virgin Pulse. RedBrick Health brought to the table digital and live coaching, health assessments and biometric screening services. 

Back in 2016 Virgin Pulse also acquired two employee wellness companies including ShapeUP and Global Corporate Challenge. 

ON THE RECORD 

“We are excited to join the leader in the employee health and wellbeing space and look forward to the massive distribution opportunities now available for Transform,” Curtis Duggan, CEO of Blue Mesa Health, said. “Our outcomes speak for themselves and have earned us the highest form of recognition by the CDC. This is a significant, hard-earned achievement that very few DPP solutions can claim. We see substantial opportunity to expand Transform’s footprint globally and are eager to make the program available to the millions of consumers who use Virgin Pulse to manage their health and wellbeing today.”