Virta Health the first provider of a treatment to reverse type 2 diabetes (T2D) without medications or surgery, announced on January 10th that it has raised $93 million in Series C funding, bringing the total equity funding to $166 million.
The financing round was led by San Francisco-based Caffeinated Capital, with the contribution of key early investors Venrock, Obvious Ventures, Creandum, Playground Global, and SciFi VC.
“This latest funding is validation for the consistency and durability of our health and economic outcomes in both clinical trial and commercial patients,” said Sami Inkinen, Virta Health’s co-founder and CEO. “We can now invest more into growth to help millions of people living with type 2 diabetes, while also investing in products and research to address other diseases.”
Type 2 diabetes, one of the most expensive chronic illnesses in the US b
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, occurs when blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose comes mainly from ingested food and is the body’s most important source of energy. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into cells to be used for energy. For those with Type 2 diabetes the body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it as it should. As a result, too much glucose remains in the blood, and not enough reaches the cells.
Nearly half of U.S. adults have either diabetes or pre-diabetes, and the epidemic is still growing, making type 2 diabetes one of the most expensive chronic illnesses in America. A new approach to diabetes has never been more needed, and Virta Health’s announcement brings hope to patients, and could perhaps remove some pressure from the healthcare systems.
Funding will allow investing in growth to meet the demand for T2D reversal from employers, health plans and government, since previous attempts to treating T2D over the past decade have not improved population-level treatment outcomes.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in funding for innovating health companies leveraging new technologies to improve the quality of care, health outcomes and reduce readmission rates. Virta Health is operating in a tech-enabled health market where different innovations, like patient remote monitoring, personal health records, vaccine passports and HIPAA compliant texting are becoming fully integrated components of a holistic patient experience.
Promising results bring significant growth for Virta
Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions and more and more innovative solutions are found by digital health companies to try to fight the problem.
Recently launched connected devices, tests and apps are helping to keep diabetes under control. Meanwhile, novel diabetes treatments are being discovered. Last September, Novo Nordisk announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved its drug Rybelsus® for adults with type 2 diabetes. Along with diet and exercise, the drug may improve blood sugar (glucose) levels.
What Virta promises, however, is the control of T2D without further medication or surgery.
“The health outcomes Virta delivers for people with type 2 diabetes are unmatched in the absence of medications or surgery, and particularly noteworthy for the level of control achieved while eliminating medications,” said Dr. Alan Moses, new Virta advisor and former Senior Vice President and Global Chief Medical Officer of Novo Nordisk. “What is even more exciting is that Virta’s care delivery model has transformational potential for a variety of conditions beyond diabetes.”
Virta Health, a licensed medical provider in all 50 states, grew significantly last year; its customer base increased by 200%. It counts among its members Fortune 100 employers, leading health plans and large government organizations. Among these are Blue Shield of California with its 3.7 million members and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which covers over 1 million veterans suffering from T2D.
“Since joining Virta, my A1c has improved nearly two points and is now in the normal range, and I no longer need any diabetes medications,” said Virta patient and U.S. Air Force Veteran Ron Hale. “Being free from the twice-daily insulin injections and dramatically improving my health and wellbeing has been life-changing, and I am grateful every day for the VA’s partnership with Virta.”
Research to expand treatment to other diseases
Virta Health plans to fund further prospective research to expand its treatment to other diseases, including cardiometabolic conditions which are suited to be treated via Virta’s novel approach to delivering provider-led remote care.
Six key advisors have been added to Virta Health’s team, to raise its directly relevant healthcare experience:
- Martin Abrahamson, MD—Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; faculty member at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA; former SVP and Chief Medical Officer of the Joslin Diabetes Center
- Francine Kaufman, MD—Chief Medical Officer of Senseonics, Inc.; former Chief Medical Officer and VP of Global Clinical, Regulatory and Medical Affairs at Medtronic Diabetes; Distinguished Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at USC; Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; former President of the American Diabetes Association
- Alan Moses, MD—former SVP and Global Chief Medical Officer of Novo Nordisk; former SVP and Chief Medical Officer of the Joslin Diabetes Center
- Peter Andruszkiewicz—former CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island
- Hassan Azar—former SVP of Total Rewards at US Foods
- Steve Martin—former CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
About Virta Health
Virta Health provides the first treatment to safely and sustainably reverse type 2 diabetes without medications or surgery. Among enrolled patients in their clinical trial at one year, 60% achieved diabetes reversal, and 94% of insulin users reduced or eliminated usage altogether. Results extend beyond diabetes reversal to other areas of metabolic and cardiovascular health, with sustained improvements in blood pressure, inflammation, liver function, and BMI.
