Increasingly, the digital universe is finding ways to try to improve our present and the world of healthcare could not be an exception. Carmen Sánchez Gómez-Casuso (Santander, 29 years old), biomedical engineer, master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and International Management, works on the front line of technological changes that could be taken from an episode of Black Mirror, the famous British series. Sánchez leads a multi-sector alliance called DTx Consortium that brings together pharmaceutical, technology, telecommunications companies, insurance companies, startups, innovation centers and patient associations with the aim of promoting the use of digital therapies in the health system. The idea is to take advantage of technology to offer alternative solutions to purely pharmacological ones, saving costs for the industry and unnecessary suffering for patients. A laudable effort, Carmen Sánchez explains to us in detail.
Where does your interest in biomedicine come from?
I had always been passionate about the intersection between the world of health and technology. I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to improving people’s lives and I saw new advances in engineering as a unique opportunity to look for new ways to solve high-impact problems. When I discovered a career in biomedical engineering, I didn’t hesitate, I knew it was what I wanted to dedicate myself to. Once inside this world, I saw that top-level research was carried out in Spain, but that it often did not reach the market. That was when I decided to focus my career on health innovation and strategy, trying to train and work to make technology transfer better and better.
Many people may find the term “digital therapy” confusing. How would you define the concept for someone hearing it for the first time?
Digital therapies are software, that is, applications that anyone can download to their mobile phone. They are defined as medical interventions, supported by rigorous scientific evidence and designed to treat specific health conditions. A crucial aspect is that these therapies are prescribed by professionals, thus integrating them into the health care process. They can be used independently or in combination with a pharmacological product. They stand out especially in fields such as mental health, musculoskeletal pathologies and cardiometabolic diseases, where they offer innovative solutions that are not covered by conventional treatments.
Could you give a concrete example?
We have many examples but there are three in which they have the most impact: mental health, cardiometabolic (obesity, diabetes) and musculoskeletal. Sleepio is the application designed as a solution to chronic insomnia. This digital therapy offers an effective alternative to traditional treatments, demonstrating both greater effectiveness than sleep hygiene techniques and conventional sleeping pills, as well as economic savings for health systems. In Scotland it is already recommended within the health system as the first line of treatment.
To give a national example, in Osakidetza they have developed “El Viaje de Mangols” for childhood obesity. This program combines an e-Health game for home use with personalized clinical follow-up. What distinguishes this digital therapy is its comprehensive approach: it not only provides information on nutrition and physical activity, but also works on the emotional strengthening of children and their families. Its integration with the patient’s digital clinical records allows precise monitoring and continuous adaptation of treatment.
What are the advantages of digital therapies?
Digital therapies offer multiple benefits for patients, healthcare professionals and the healthcare system in general. For patients, they provide personalized evidence-based treatments, improve therapeutic adherence and facilitate continuous access to validated information about their condition. Healthcare professionals can optimize their care time, expand their care capacity and offer more personalized interventions. Additionally, they allow real-time remote monitoring, especially valuable for chronic diseases. For the health system, these therapies can reduce pressure on health infrastructure, reducing medical visits, waiting times and hospitalizations. They also provide valuable clinical and patient experience data that support informed decision making and promote value-based medicine. Finally, by expanding healthcare delivery beyond traditional clinical settings, they facilitate remote access, increasing equity in access for those with geographic or mobility limitations.
Which countries are most advanced in this regard?
Germany, France and the United Kingdom have positioned themselves as leaders in the adoption and regulation of digital therapies, implementing innovative frameworks for their evaluation and financing. Germany was a pioneer in 2020 and is already financing 55 digital therapies. France, for its part, followed closely and last year presented its own process. The United Kingdom stands out for its innovation when it comes to integrating new technologies into its health system through its Early Assessment (EVA) process.
Where is Spain?
In Spain, we currently do not have a regulatory framework of these characteristics, which makes access to these therapies and their marketing difficult. However, Spain has an advantageous position in other aspects. The high level of digitalization of its national health system stands out, superior to countries like Germany, with electronic medical records, electronic prescriptions and digital applications of the different regional systems for managing appointments and reports. In addition, we are one of the leading countries in the world in scientific production in biomedical sciences and clinical trials, and we have a growing ecosystem of digital therapeutics startups.
Can the digital divide of our elders have an influence?
Yes, it is certainly not a factor that we can forget, digital therapies do not work for everything or for everyone. However, there are several factors that lead us to look optimistically at overcoming these barriers. The first is that the “older” generation is increasingly digitalized and in the age ranges from 65 to 74 we already see that, according to the INE, around 80% use the Internet frequently. On the other hand, these technologies have inherited good practices from digital regarding user-centered design and experience, which allows them to have levels of adaptation to the needs and preferences of the target audience that are much higher than other types of treatments. Let us not forget that digital therapies do not seek to replace in-person care, but rather to increase the capabilities of professionals and the system and offer more personalized treatments. A clear example of how new technologies are impacting the care of these elderly people are virtual assistants powered by artificial intelligence.
Is Artificial Intelligence present in this service?
Yes, most digital therapies have an artificial intelligence component that mainly allows the personalization of treatment based on the characteristics and progress of each person. It is also applied for the automated analysis of the data collected by the application to avoid hospitalizations.
How do you see the future of the healthcare industry in the coming years?
When it comes to digital therapies this is just the beginning. I see changes in a second generation of software that is capable of generating patterns with light and sound stimuli to improve health conditions, as Cognito Therapeutics is doing. Then there are digital therapies in combination with pharmaceutical products. I think it will be increasingly common to see products where the drug comes hand in hand with a digital solution that increases its effectiveness, adherence and offers a more holistic treatment to the patient. Finally, I believe that digital therapies that include the analysis of big data and integrate different sources obtaining new digital biomarkers will be decisive.