AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR), a global leader in drug delivery, consumer product dispensing and active material science solutions announced today that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with respect to a potential acquisition of all outstanding shares of Voluntis (ENXTPA: ALVTX), a pioneer in digital therapeutics.
This acquisition would complement Aptar’s existing digital health portfolio of connected devices by adding digital therapeutic solutions and broadening its digital health services across multiple chronic conditions and diseases. Digital therapeutics (DTx) help patients and caregivers treat, manage, or prevent a disorder or disease through evidence-based interventions that are driven by high quality software solutions. Supported by the trend toward personalized healthcare, DTx are used independently or in connection with medications, devices or other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes. By acquiring Voluntis, Aptar would have immediate access to an established proprietary platform and algorithms that would drive future digital solutions provided to pharmaceutical and biotech customers as well as other healthcare stakeholders including payers and providers.
Voluntis’s proprietary Theraxium platform supports patients in the management of their treatment in collaboration with their healthcare providers. The platform offers real-time decision support (e.g. for self-management of symptoms, dosing and adherence) for a wide range of chronic diseases, while allowing healthcare providers to remotely monitor the patient’s treatment journey and the progress of the disease. The Theraxium platform serves as the foundation for the digital therapeutics co-developed with pharmaceutical partners and is intended to be used in conjunction with their drugs. The company has secured fourteen regulatory clearances in the U.S. and EU markets, supported by its ISO13485- and Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP)-certified quality management system. In particular, Voluntis’s Oleena is the first digital therapeutic in oncology based on the Theraxium platform to have received marketing authorization in both the United States and the European Union. Founded in 2001, Voluntis employs over 75 people at its offices in Paris and Boston, and would continue to operate from these locations.
Stephan B. Tanda, Aptar President and CEO said, “Voluntis has established itself as a true innovator in digital therapeutics over the last decade with chronic disease management at the core of their offering. Combined with our existing device platforms, extensive research and development capabilities, and long-established relationships in the healthcare space, this strategic investment would accelerate Aptar’s future digital healthcare offerings and drive innovation that delivers life-changing and empowering support tools for patients around the globe.”
“This is the next step in our strategy to expand our digital capabilities. By leveraging Voluntis’s platform, Aptar Pharma would be able to develop novel digital therapeutics solutions across multiple disease areas. Combining digital therapeutics with our connected device ecosystem, we would upon consummation of the acquisition, offer patients and healthcare professionals a range of effective tools to improve clinical outcomes,” explained Gael Touya, President of Aptar Pharma.
Eric Elliott, Chairman of the Board of Voluntis, said, “During discussions with Aptar leadership it became clear that the combination would bring great synergy in the ability to accelerate offerings to the digital health marketplace and the synergy of like-minded, passionate people working together to execute more quickly than they would separately. This is a great fit of talents and intentions.”
more at source: https://www.aptar.com/news-events/aptar-announces-exclusive-negotiations-regarding-a-potential-acquisition-of-voluntis-to-expand-in-digital-therapeutics/