About our project
The problem we solve: Our country’s healthcare costs are a ballooning crisis, driven by diabetes and its complications. In 1960, 1% of US population was diabetic. Today, 9.5% or 30M people, with 80M more are at risk. 1 in 5 healthcare dollars ($600B) are spent annually on diabetics, and it is the #1 driver of workplace healthcare costs. For every 100 diabetics, over $1.1M per year is spent, mostly on medications like insulin and metformin. Can we reverse this epidemic?
New science brings hope in the form of a unique low-cost diet with social reinforcement. In a 2017 study of 100 patients, the protocol reversed indicators of diabetes in 60% of patients in 90 days. But, without a systematic way to create larger awareness among providers and patients of the new protocol and a way to change perceptions and behaviors driving disease, we continue fighting an up-hill battle against established lifestyles and outdated treatments that contribute to the alarming rise of healthcare costs in our nation.
About our solution:
4D.Health seeks to build on the momentum of research such as one with 135K patients over 7 years showing the correlation between high mortality and high carbohydrate diets (almost 23% more mortality), as well as the research our medical experts have done reversing clinical diabetes in 90 days.
4D.Health uses a technology-supported protocol and new science as a foundation to provide 1) a step-by-step and hands-on approach to educating providers about the administration of and adherence to an uncommon diet protocol that reverses diabetes, 2) a visual AND gaming-based rewards system to motivate both patients and providers to commit to the protocol, 3) a platform for easy and HIPA-compliant communication between patients and providers, and 4) a virtual community of supporters as positive reinforcement for patients.
Progress to
date:We have engaged a clinic to serve as a beta site. A medical provider was able to sign on 30 diabetic patients to the trial. In 3 months, about 55% of the diabetic patients were able to lower Hba1c levels to 6.5 or below. 9 patients with related complications of hypertension had seen their anti-hypertensive medications discontinued after they had lost about 7-10 percent of their weight.
We also have a partner who is among one of the largest self-insured health insurance brokers in the U.S.
About Our Team
Creator: Rich Jay
Location: District of Columbia
Education: Duke University, BS, MBA
Bio: Rich is a high-energy thought leader experienced in leveraging data and the art of persuasion to transform businesses and individuals. Entrepreneurial, consensus-building, and an evangelist and example for product and service delight.
Specialties: The Art of Influence, Hoshin Strategy Planning, Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma, Hypothesis Testing, Customer Service Strategy, Sales and Service Operations, Sourcing and Supplier Management, Service Desk Management, Knowledge Acquisition and Learning, Talent Sourcing and Development
Title: CEO
About Team Members
Alex Tse
CMIO, MD
Biography: - 35 years of clinical experience
- NC Board Certified Pediatrics
- Diabetes Expert
Title: CMIO
Advanced Degree(s): MD
Andre Tse
CMO, MD
Biography: - 35 years of clinical experience
- NC Board Certified Cardiology
- Chronic disease expert
Title: CMO
Advanced Degree(s): MD
Siu Tong
Executive Chairman, PhD
Biography: - Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Wall Street Journal Startup of the Year
- 12 years at GE R&D
- MIT Ph.D. Engineering and Management
Title: Executive Chairman
Advanced Degree(s): PhD
Greg Moyer
Product Dev (on contract), MS
Biography: - Led ED business for Allscripts, A4 Health
- MS Operations Research
Title: Product Dev (on contract)
Advanced Degree(s): MS
Naveen Vangipurapu
Product Dev (on contract), BS
Biography: - BCBS NC, senior developer
- Solution Architect
- Development leader
Title: Product Dev (on contract)
Advanced Degree(s): BS
About Our Company
4D.Health
Location: PO Box 96503 PMB 55441
Washington, DC 20090
Founded: 2018
Product
Stage: Prototype/MVP
YTD Sales: Working on it
Employees: 3-5
How We Help Patients
Imagine a world where diabetic patients truly have the power to choose a path to recovery. Instead of following outdated treatment advice where insulin, metformin, and a host of other drugs try to take aim at the "slow" the demise of pancreatic function, imagine that patients are able to take action, to follow a program that takes aim at the root causes, one that is able to remove dependency on medication within 6 months, and even reduce associated cardiovascular, eye, and other complications from diabetes. This is the future we are bringing to patients. If you are diabetic today, you DON'T HAVE TO BE tomorrow. It is truly your choice.
How We Help Physicians
Imagine a world where providers truly have the power to treat and eliminate diabetes. Imagine this world as giving providers back the power referred to in the hippocratic oath of, "First do no harm." Instead of following outdated treatment standards where insulin, metformin, and a host of other drugs try to take aim at the "slow" the demise of pancreatic function, imagine that providers are able to take action, to follow a program that takes aim at the root causes, one that is able to remove dependency on medication within 6 months, and even reduce associated cardiovascular, eye, and other complications from diabetes. How would that help your reputation as a provider? How would that bring more to your practice's bottom line through referrals and patient satisfaction? Your MIPS and other value-based care scores? This is the brighter future we are bringing to providers. If your patients are diabetic today, they DON'T HAVE TO BE tomorrow. It will be your choice.
Challenge Mission
Market Size
| |
Diabetes |
Pre-Diabetes |
Obese |
|
| Population (millions) |
30 |
84 |
98 |
|
| Management fee per day |
$6 |
$2 |
$1 |
|
| Market potential (billions) |
$64 |
$61 |
$98 |
|
Projected 3 Year Growth
We intend to reverse diabetes in 1% of the diabetic population, or 300K individuals within 3 years. This will produce at least $1.8M/day ($657M per year) in revenues in 2020 and will allow us to expand our platform to include additional geographic areas.
How We Will Make Money
Our revenue streams will come from patient fees (subsidizable) by employer, employer/provider management fees, and food company sponsorship. We are solving specific problems for patients, employers, and providers, and in turn this is where we will charge for services. For patients, the value comes from becoming disease-free. For employers, we are reducing their workplace healthcare costs. For providers, we are helping them score better on accountable care metrics. These are the key stakeholders that we would charge services for. In addition, as we onboard food partners, we will also charge them for integrating food ordering and advertising within our platform.
About our Competition
Wellness Clinics (HIGH COST, LOW LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS)
- $300 per month
- Focus on diet and exercise rather than diabetes
- Employer-drive
- Low scalability
Diabetic Clinics (LOW COST, MODERATE LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS)
- $100+ per month
- Mixed results depnding on protocol used
- Dependence on large labor force
- Low scalability
Livongo (LOW COST, LOW LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS)
- $65 per month
- Dependent on carrying external "3rd" device
- No evidence of long-term reversal
- Reliance on medicaiton for management
Virta Health (HIGH COST, HIGH LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS)
- $400 per month
- Reliance on external monitoring and coaching
- Large labor force
- Low visual feedback
4D.HEALTH FOR DIABETES (LOW COST, HIGH LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS)
- $200 PER MONTH
- Patient-driven positive feedback loops
- Body visual reinforcements
- Scientifically supported
- Scalable, software-driven
- Employer and consumer-friendly programs
Progress with Customers to date
We have one beta clinic with 30 currently employing our protocol, with promising results even at 3 months. The protocol has generated interest from one of the largest self-insured healthcare insurance brokers in the U.S. We are moving forward with technology developments that ensure the robustness of our model and implementation of the protocol, which should see even greater traction and interest.
New Orleans and Our Company
We would love to add value to the New Orleans community. The model that we have created is transplantable and scalable. We know New Orleans and Louisian would benefit from a program like this because of the high number of obese and diabetics in the state. This would be a great opportunity for us to explore a market where the pain is concentrated and the efforts could yield more difference in a short amount of time. We look forward to working with you.
Innovation Details
Intellectual Property Summary
I have revealed nothing and am keeping my ideas a trade secret
Clinical Information
We have engaged a clinic to serve as a beta site. A medical provider was able to sign on 30 diabetic patients to the trial. In 3 months, about 55% of the diabetic patients were able to lower Hba1c levels to 6.5 or below. 9 patients with related complications of hypertension had seen their anti-hypertensive medications discontinued after they had lost about 7-10 percent of their weight.
We also have a partner who is among one of the largest self-insured health insurance brokers in the U.S.
Regulatory Status
We do not plan to fund clinical trials at this point.
How we will use the funds raised
The funds will be utilized for mobile application development and marketing.
Thank You
Get behind the only evidence-based program in the U.S. that leverages technology to motivate BOTH patients and providers to put a stop diabetes in its tracks.
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