Kaia Health Digital COPD Application Approved by Germany’s “FDA”

New York, January 24, 2023 – Kaia COPD, a digital application for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has been included in the DiGA directory by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) as a digital health application (DiGA) and can now be prescribed by medical providers and reimbursed as a prescription. Kaia COPD is based on the national treatment guidelines for chronic respiratory disease. The digital application helps those affected to improve their health-related quality of life and physical performance.

According to the CDC, over 15 million Americans suffer from COPD and over 150,000 die each year. That’s one death every 4 minutes. Early detection and effective management are critical to improving the quality of life for those suffering from COPD.  Leading experts from the field of inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation were involved in the development of Kaia COPD, which makes important elements of pulmonary rehabilitation available in digital form via smartphone or tablet and enables patients with COPD to use a comprehensive therapeutic program anytime , anywhere.

Nigel Ohrenstein, President of Kaia Health said “The bar for approval by BfArM is exceptionally high and this approval is a testament to our commitment to both clinical excellence and developing solutions that are cost effective and enable easy access to care”. To date, only 22% of applications to BfArm have been approved, which further illustrates what a clinical achievement this is.

Motion analysis technology

Kaia has integrated a “digital coach” into the app using motion analysis technology. Kaia COPD uses artificial intelligence (AI) to support patients during exercises providing real-time visual and verbal feedback using the smartphone or tablet camera, thereby supporting the safe and correct execution of the exercises.

Efficacy of Kaia COPD proven in clinical studies

The efficacy of Kaia COPD has already been investigated in two RCT trials for patients with COPD. In the pilot study Rassouli et al. (2018) found a clinically relevant improvement in health-related quality of life for patients with Kaia COPD. The randomized controlled AMOPUR study showed an improvement in the health-related quality of life and an improvement in physical activity for patients in the Kaia COPD group. A systematic data analysis with 104 patients in Germany has yielded equally positive results: Over a period of twelve weeks, a significant improvement in health-related quality of life (COPD Assessment Test Score) and physical performance (1-minute sit-to-stand test) could be observed. This proves the medical benefit of Kaia COPD is directly relevant to patients.

MSK and COPD

Kaia now offers ground-breaking solutions for both MSK and COPD. Ohrenstein added “We will continue to deliver on our mission to make clinically proven, affordable solutions available to patients anywhere, anytime that will dramatically improve their quality of life”.

About Kaia Health

Kaia Health is the world’s largest digital therapeutics company on a mission to empower millions of people to live their healthiest life. Our evidence-based treatments, covering a range of conditions, including MSK and COPD, are powered by proprietary motion analysis technology and clinical expertise.  Kaia’s programs are designed to work directly on your smartphone or tablet — without the need for sensors or wearables — delivering the most accessible, effective, and equitable experience available. Across eleven clinical trials, Kaia has demonstrated effectiveness and safety on par with traditional care with as much as 80% reduction in cost, and is the only MSK company to receive Program Validation from the independent Validation Institute. Kaia Health is a member of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance (DTA) and is headquartered in NY and Munich. Kaia partners with leading health plans, employers, and providers, covering 60+ million lives around the world. Learn more at www.kaiahealth.com.