Israeli startup DreaMed gets FDA approval for app that adjusts insulin doses for Type 2 diabetes
MODI analyzes glucose and treatment data to provide personalized dosage recommendations between doctor visits without requiring approval for each adjustment.
Israeli startup DreaMed Diabetes has received FDA approval for MODI, an application that analyzes blood glucose levels and insulin therapy data to provide adults with Type 2 diabetes with personalized insulin dosage adjustment recommendations directly on their mobile phones, without requiring physician approval for each recommendation.
Approximately 85% of insulin users rely on injections, representing more than eight million people in the U.S. alone. Many struggle to achieve recommended blood sugar levels and may wait months between doctor visits before their insulin dosage is adjusted to their changing needs. While advanced insulin-dosing technologies have primarily been developed for people with Type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps, options for people with Type 2 diabetes who rely on injections have remained more limited.
The prescription-only app is designed for adults with Type 2 diabetes and analyzes blood sugar patterns and treatment data to provide personalized insulin dosage recommendations between clinic visits. It does not require physicians to pre-set individual dosages or approve each recommendation, potentially reducing the workload associated with routine insulin adjustments.
The app is named in memory of the late Modi (Mordechai) Amir, a 67-year-old technology professional from Kfar Aza who was killed on October 7. The connection between the Amir family and DreaMed was established through the "Next October" memorial initiative, founded by Izhar, Hila, and Ofir Shay in memory of their son and brother, Yaron, who was killed in battle defending Kerem Shalom on October 7.
With the Amir family's consent, DreaMed chose to honor Modi by naming the application after him. The name was also used in the company's FDA registration.
"Today, we can monitor glucose levels continuously, yet insulin treatment is often adjusted only once every few months. Data alone does not improve patient health; the real value lies in transforming that data into timely, personalized recommendations. MODI enables millions of people with Type 2 diabetes to receive data-driven guidance between doctor visits, bringing the benefits of advanced diabetes care technologies to patients who use insulin injections," said Eran Atlas, co-founder and CEO of DreaMed Diabetes.
DreaMed was founded in 2014, emerging from technological initiatives at the Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes at Schneider Children's Medical Center, part of the Clalit Group.
The company's active co-founders include Prof. Moshe Phillip, head of the Diabetes Institute and chairman of DreaMed; Atlas, who serves as CEO; Prof. Revital Nimri, chief medical R&D officer director; and Ido Muller, Director of algorithms and data science.
The company employs 30 people, all of them in Israel. Since its founding, DreaMed has raised a total of $35.5 million, including $12.5 million from investors and approximately $23 million in non-dilutive funding. Its investors include Medtronic, eHV, SIBF, and OurCrowd.
