[Good Brain 2024] "DTx Requires Doctor's Prescription"... "Expectations for Integration with Wearables"

'Finding Solutions for Brain Diseases through Digital Means' Panel Discussion
Samsung Electronics Utilizes DTx via Wearable Devices

As the final session of the ‘2024 Good Brain Conference,’ a panel discussion was held under the theme ‘Finding Solutions to Brain Diseases through Digital Technology.’ Following the approval of the country’s first digital therapeutic device (DTx) by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety last year, four products have been authorized to date, and recently, prescriptions for general patients have begun, opening the related market and raising expectations for its full-fledged growth as the ‘third new drug.’ The discussion was chaired by Jaeheon Kang, President of the Korean Digital Therapeutics Association, with panelists including Jaejun Song, CEO of NewLive; Sungji Kang, CEO of Welt; Hangrae Kim, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Rowan; and Jongmin Choi, Executive Director at Samsung Electronics (Head of Health Hardware Development Group).

[Good Brain 2024] "DTx Requires Doctor's Prescription"... "Expectations for Integration with Wearables"

Kang Jaeheon (left), President of the Korean Society of Digital Therapeutics, and other panelists attended the "2024 Good Brain Conference" hosted by Asia Economy on the 11th at the Diamond Hall of The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, discussing the topic "Finding Solutions to Brain Diseases through Digital Technology." From left: Kang Jaeheon, President of the Korean Society of Digital Therapeutics; Choi Jongmin, Executive Director at Samsung Electronics; Song Jaejun, CEO of NewLive; Kang Seongji, CEO of Welt; Kim Hangrae, Chief Medical Officer at Rowan. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

- How are DTx prescriptions currently being made?

▲ CEO Sungji Kang: It varies by product, but for Welt’s insomnia treatment DTx called ‘SleepQ,’ a typical prescription lasts about six weeks. Patients do not need to visit the doctor every week. For patients who do not show significant improvement after six weeks, a combination of DTx and sleeping pills may be prescribed.

Doctor’s prescriptions are crucial when using DTx. There are already many applications on the market that claim to help improve insomnia, but if they are offered free to the general public with payment requested after a month, many people do not continue using them. DTx for treatment carries authority through the doctor’s prescription process, where the doctor examines the patient, assesses symptoms, and decides how best to use the treatment, creating expectations. For example, during the treatment of patients with eating disorders, when the doctor reviewed patient-related data mid-treatment and contacted the patient, treatment effectiveness and compliance improved. Emphasizing the doctor-patient relationship and supporting its expansion and continuity is the essence of treatment, so the process of doctors prescribing to patients should not be overlooked.

▲ CEO Jaejun Song: That’s right. The relationship between doctor and patient is important in treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is not about casually telling patients “try it once,” but seriously persuading them by explaining how and why it helps, which improves compliance and treatment outcomes. Although DTx apps could be simply released on app stores as B2C (business-to-consumer) products, proper treatment effects require patients to use them based on prescriptions.

- DTx prescriptions are still in the early stages; what policies are needed to activate the market?

▲ CEO Sungji Kang: In the short term, decisions on whether DTx will be covered by health insurance, which is currently under review, are necessary. In the long term, consideration of allowing telemedicine and remote prescriptions is needed. While commercialization through non-reimbursed or private insurance is possible, applying health insurance to reduce patient burden is preferable. I just returned from a business trip to Germany. Two insomnia DTx products are in use there, with 600,000 prescriptions for 50 diseases so far. The German government covers nearly 100% of insurance fees, encouraging both patients and doctors to actively use DTx.

- What is the current level of development for digital therapeutic technologies for dementia patients?

▲ CMO Hangrae Kim: Whether for dementia patients or those without dementia, health data can be obtained through digital devices such as wearables. However, digital therapies for dementia patients currently only provide auxiliary support to treatments performed directly by occupational or psychological therapists. Ultimately, we are researching to develop better digital technologies that allow dementia patients to directly experience the effects of digital medical technology.

- There is also an expectation that linking DTx with wearable devices will enhance effectiveness.

▲ CEO Jaejun Song: Digital medical devices are divided into software-centered DTx and hardware-centered electronic drugs using electrical stimulation. I believe both will be developed in the near future to integrate with mobile platforms.

▲ Executive Director Jongmin Choi: Samsung Electronics is focusing on early diagnosis of diseases based on healthcare devices as a business direction. We are also preparing roadmaps applying augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR). XR devices have an open platform nature, and attempts are being made to utilize such devices in DTx development. Galaxy Watch users can view data 24 hours a day, allowing real-time monitoring of health risk signals. Samsung’s role is to suggest to users, “It would be good to see a doctor,” based on this data. Using wearable devices for early diagnosis of health abnormalities and then receiving prompt medical care to maintain health is the benefit our company can provide to users.