Baxter (NYSE:BAX) and Ayogo Health Inc. announced today that they are expanding their partnership to support people with kidney disease.
The partnership between Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter and Vancouver, B.C.-based Ayogo will combine the latter’s LifePlan behavior-based digital platform with Baxter’s renal care expertise to build mobile apps and digital solutions to support kidney failure patients, according to a news release.
The companies plan to build a new mobile platform for patients using Baxter’s Sharesource remote monitoring platform with automated peritoneal dialysis therapy.
Additionally, Baxter made an equity investment in Ayogo in exchange for minority interest in the company, although financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
“As a leader in renal care innovation and pioneer in digital health solutions for patients with kidney failure, our collaboration with Ayogo allows us to provide healthcare professionals and patients more confidence in their therapy options, including home dialysis,” Baxter renal care business GM Laura Angelini said in the release. “This is particularly important in the midst of the [COVID-19] pandemic, when it is critical to support patients with digital health tools that empower them to perform dialysis in the safety of their home, while staying connected with their healthcare team.”
Last November, Baxter and Ayogo announced the launch of a pilot of CKD&Me, a smartphone app that tailors educational content to chronic kidney disease patients’ learning needs, in several nephrology practices across the U.S. It is currently available in the U.S. on the App Store and Google Play Store.
“Ayogo’s vision is of an empowered patient, successful on their own terms, with tools and support dynamically tailored to the unique characteristics and circumstances of their life,” Ayogo CEO Michael Fergusson said. “We’re very excited that Baxter shares this vision. We’re proud of our collaboration on CKD&Me, and to grow our partnership with Baxter to bring the power of Sharesource and Ayogo’s LifePlan platform direct to patients around the world.”