Mcquade Center for Strategic Research and Development Launches the Otsuka Digital Pioneer Initiative
September 28, 2021 at 09:00 am EDT
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McQuade Center for Strategic Research and Development, LLC announced the launch of Otsuka’s Digital Pioneer Initiative (ODPI). The ODPI was created to accelerate Otsuka’s digital health capabilities through active and strategic engagement with early-stage companies focused on improving mental health and well-being. MSRD also announced a strategic investment in Mindful Mamas—a digital solution for maternal and family mental wellness. Both initiatives were unveiled during DTx East, the annual summit focused on defining how digital therapeutics are going to integrate into healthcare. The ODPI will focus its investments on digital health technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence driven health agents, digital biomarkers, social support platforms, and mobile apps that include both prescription and non-prescription digital therapeutics. Nearly 70% of moms have experienced adverse health effects due to worry and stress related to the pandemic, proving that their mental well-being needs to be a priority. Through mindfulness and meditation, the Mindful Mamas app offers support for uncertainty and stress by guiding mothers to cultivate equanimity, manage emotions, improve relationships, grow happiness, and sleep better. Since its inception in March 2020, the Mindful Mamas app has surpassed 125,000 downloads in over 50 countries through primarily organic efforts with the average active user accessing the app 2 times per day. Recent feedback from those who have used the app indicates that more than 80% of mothers reported feeling better or much better after completing a practice in the app.
Otsuka Holdings Co, Ltd. is a holding company organised around 4 areas of activity:
- manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical products (65.2% of sales): prescription drugs and intravenous solutions mainly for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and ophthalmic diseases. In addition, the group sells diagnostic products and medical devices;
- manufacture and sale of nutraceutical products (25.1%): functional foods and beverages, OTC products, nutritional supplements;
- production of mineral waters, beverages and foods (2.1%);
- other (7.5%): manufacture of functional chemicals and fine chemicals, provision of logistics services, manufacture of electronic products, etc.
Net sales by source of income are divided between sales of products (93.8%), sales of licences and royalties (1.8%) and other (4.4%).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Japan (43.2%), North America (34%),