Merck KGaA and Remepy partner to test ‘Hybrid Drugs’ model
Collaboration explores combining medication with app-based therapies in rare tumor programs.
Remepy has entered into a collaboration with Merck KGaA to explore the development of “Hybrid Drugs” across multiple therapeutic areas.
The companies did not disclose the value of the deal, but it is estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars, including an advance payment and royalties.
The collaboration will initially focus on several programs in the United States in a rare tumor area. The companies may later expand the partnership to include additional opportunities across Merck’s broader therapeutic portfolio.
Hybrid Drugs combine traditional pharmacological treatments with personalized digital therapeutic protocols delivered through a mobile app. The approach is based on research suggesting that treatment outcomes improve when medication is combined with behavioral, physical, and cognitive interventions.
Remepy’s platform integrates these elements by pairing drug treatment with software-guided therapies designed to support patient care. These may include motor, physical, and cognitive interventions delivered alongside medication.
The partnership reflects growing interest in combining drug development with digital health tools, although the model is still emerging and remains to be tested at scale.
Remepy raised a total of $26 million to date from NFX, Vine, Tech Aviv, Key1 and Freshfund.
“We are excited about our collaboration with Merck, that is a leading science and technology company,” said Dr. Michal Tsur, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Remepy. “Remepy’s Hybrid Drug platform combines traditional drugs with evidence-based AI enabled digital interventions delivering personalized, adaptive integrative treatment. The new advances in regulatory frameworks, supporting the integration of software with drugs, enable the pharma industry to use the power of the digital world to differentiate drugs, enhance their efficacy and amplify their label.”
