Boarding PassRespirAI prepares to set the “smoker’s disease” alight with new digital health platform
Boarding Pass
RespirAI prepares to set the “smoker’s disease” alight with new digital health platform
The company has raised a total of $1.1 million to provide real-time monitoring and personalized insights for respiratory conditions such as COPD
“The idea behind RespirAI originated a few years ago while Assaf and I were working in different medical companies, exploring the healthcare landscape and trying to identify unsolved unmet needs,” said Nimrod Bin-Nun, CEO and Founder of RespirAI. “One of the most intriguing areas was the pulmonary arena, where we noticed a significant gap in monitoring patients suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases.”
According to Bin-Nun, there was limited technology assisting patients in understanding their disease status or predicting and preventing dangerous flare-ups. This inspired him to establish RespirAI with Assaf Gur - a digital health company that helps patients monitor respiratory diseases.
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Ophir Shahaf, eHealth Ventures; Nimrod Bin-Nun and Assaf Gur, RespirAI; Talor Sax, eHealth Ventures
(Photo: EHV)
Currently, the company is working on tracking COPD, a chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and airway obstruction. According to the company it impacts 70 million people and causes 150,000 deaths annually. The product launch is expected in 2026.
“Unlike in Cardiological and Inflammatory diseases, there is currently no solution available that can provide an accurate assessment of the disease status and effectively predict and prevent deadly exacerbations,” he added. “This is precisely the problem we are addressing with our developed technology.”
You can learn more about the company below.
Company Name: RespirAI Medical Ltd.
Sector: Healthcare, AI
Product Description:
RespirAI is a digital health company committed to revolutionizing the management of respiratory diseases through an AI-based home monitoring platform. The RespirAI platform endeavors, through its proprietary algorithm, to become the pioneering product enabling patients to precisely monitor their disease condition in real time.
RespirAI's platform comprises three essential components that provide a comprehensive chronic disease monitoring platform:
- Non-intrusive FDA-approved off-the-shelf sensors capture data related to respiratory function and physical activity including ECG, heart rate, physical activity, and more.
- A patented innovative AI-based algorithm processes the collected data and analyzes these parameters to identify patterns, changes in patient lung function, early disease exacerbations, and patient disease status.
- A user-friendly application that displays alerts and provides an accurate picture of the patient's disease status, enabling timely interventions, medication adherence tracking, and overall disease management.
Through continuous monitoring of disease status, RespirAI's technology provides a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the patient's condition. This empowers patients, their families, and healthcare providers to proactively manage respiratory diseases and improve overall disease management.
RespirAI is in the process of validating its first indication, which involves monitoring and early detection of COPD exacerbation and is evaluating its feasibility for additional indications.
Founder Bios:
Nimrod Bin-Nun, CEO and Founder: Nimrod has over 17 years of extensive experience in global Pharma, Medical Devices, and Diagnostics companies in Finance, Business Development, and top managerial positions.
Assaf Gur, VP R&D and Founder: Assaf is a Medical Devices professional with more than 20 years' experience in senior management positions in medical device companies. Assaf specialized in leading multidisciplinary teams in the development and registration of medical devices.
Year of Founding: 2020
Last Investment Round: $1 million
Last Investment Stage: Seed
Date of Last Investment: March 2022
Total investment to date: $1.1 million
Investors: eHealth Ventures, Private investors
Current number of employees: 5
Open positions: 2
Website:
www.respirai.com
How was the idea born?
The idea behind RespirAI originated a few years ago while Assaf and I were working in different medical companies, exploring the healthcare landscape and trying to identify unsolved unmet needs. One of the most intriguing areas was the pulmonary arena, where we noticed a significant gap in monitoring patients suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases. There was very limited, if any, technology assisting these patients in understanding their disease status or predicting and preventing dangerous flare-ups. This realization ignited our passion for innovation and led us to search globally for the right solution.
After conducting extensive research, we came across a publication published by a group of researchers at Nebraska University, who developed an innovative home-based AI solution that showed promising results in managing pulmonary diseases. Recognizing the potential of their research and their promising preliminary clinical data, we obtained a license for the technology, believing that with the right managerial and financial support, this innovation could truly change the market and have a dramatic impact on patient care.
What is the need for the product?
Our first application targets a disease called COPD, a chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and airway obstruction. While it may not be the most recognized disease, COPD, often referred to as the "smoker's disease," affects nearly 20% of current and former smokers, with over 70 million individuals diagnosed with it worldwide.
COPD patients typically experience breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, and constant fatigue. They are prone to recurrent flare-ups, significantly increasing their risk of death. In the US alone, these flare-ups lead to about 700,000 hospitalizations every year, accounting for roughly 4% of total hospitalizations, and approximately 150,000 deaths annually.
These chronic patients manage their condition at home and visit their doctors periodically. However, they often grapple with critical questions about their disease status, treatment effectiveness, and the likelihood of future flare-ups. Unlike in Cardiological and Inflammatory diseases, there is currently no solution available that can provide an accurate assessment of the disease status and effectively predict and prevent deadly exacerbations. This is precisely the problem we are addressing with our developed technology.
How is it changing the market?
RespirAI's solution is poised to revolutionize the market by offering advanced AI-driven technology that provides real-time monitoring and personalized insights for respiratory conditions. Unlike traditional approaches, such as biomarkers, imaging technologies, and different ambulatory solutions, the RespirAI platform enables continuous and accurate monitoring of patients' respiratory health around the clock and from the comfort of their homes. This proactive approach empowers patients to actively manage their conditions and allows healthcare providers to intervene earlier, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and improved quality of life for millions of individuals living with respiratory conditions.
How big is the market for the product and who are its main customers?
RespirAI's platform initially focuses on COPD, a chronic respiratory ailment impacting over 70 million diagnosed patients worldwide, ranking as the third leading cause of death globally. RespirAI's end users are patients diagnosed with COPD in advanced stages, experiencing frequent flare-ups, constituting approximately 50% of all diagnosed COPD cases, with over 8 million patients in the US alone. Their concerns about deteriorating health conditions highlight the necessity for remote monitoring and personalized care. In parallel, RespirAI’s target payers include insurance companies and clinics treating COPD patients, who are seeking remote monitoring solutions to enhance care quality, treatment effectiveness, and cost efficiency.
Does the product exist already? If not - at what stage is it and when is it expected to hit the market?
Currently, RespirAI is involved in clinical evaluations of its COPD monitoring platform, which will be followed by regulatory work to ensure compliance with essential standards and regulations. The product launch is expected by early 2026.
Who are the main competitors in this sector and how big are they?
Various technologies have been developed to manage respiratory diseases, ranging from blood biomarkers to spirometers for lung capacity measurement at doctor's offices, telehealth systems, imaging technologies like chest CT scans, and basic wearable devices. However, many of these solutions suffer from limitations such as high cost, inconvenience for daily use, and lack of accuracy. Importantly, none of these technologies have demonstrated the capability to effectively identify changes in disease status and detect flare-ups early.
In contrast, RespirAI's system offers a unique advantage. Our platform stands out due to a proprietary and unique combination of its innovative marker and AI-based algorithm. By continuously and passively monitoring multiple physiological parameters through FDA-approved off-the-shelf sensors, our platform aims to accurately detect changes in disease status. This will enable timely interventions, medication adherence tracking, and overall improvement in disease management.
What is the added value that the founders bring to the company and the product?
As co-founders of the company, Nimrod Bin-Nun and Assaf Gur bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and industry connections that contribute significantly to the success and development of RespirAI and its product. With over 37 years of combined experience in the healthcare industry, their expertise spans various aspects of development and management, providing a strong foundation for the company's growth.
Bin-Nun's extensive background encompasses over 17 years of experience in global Pharma, Medical Devices, and Diagnostics companies, where he held key roles in Finance, Business Development, and top managerial positions. His deep understanding of these sectors and his track record in strategic decision-making and leadership bring invaluable insights to RespirAI. Additionally, his extensive industry connections provide access to a wide network of potential partners, investors, and stakeholders.
Gur, on the other hand, brings over 20 years of experience as a Medical Devices professional, specializing in senior management positions within medical device companies. His expertise lies in leading multidisciplinary teams in the development and registration of medical devices, which is particularly relevant to RespirAI's product development process. He has hands-on experience in navigating regulatory requirements, overseeing product development, and ensuring compliance adds immense value to the company.
Together, Bin-Nun and Gur form a dynamic leadership team that combines deep industry knowledge, strategic vision, and practical experience. Their complementary skill sets and extensive networks position RespirAI for success in developing and commercializing innovative solutions for respiratory disease management.
What will the money coming in from the round be used for?
The funds secured from the upcoming funding round will be strategically allocated to support RespirAI's core objectives and operational needs. These include advancing clinical efforts, regulatory processes, and market preparation activities. A significant portion will be dedicated to advance clinical trials. Another allocation will focus on obtaining necessary regulatory approvals for market entry.
Additionally, funds will be allocated for hiring skilled professionals to support RespirAI's activities, while marketing efforts will aim to raise product awareness and prepare for commercial launch. Finally, a portion will be designated for evaluating early feasibility tests for developing the platform for additional indications. By effectively distributing these funds, RespirAI aims to accelerate its path to market success and solidify its position as a leader in respiratory disease management solutions.
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