What You Should Know:
– Today, Zerigo Health, a San Diego, CA-based connected light therapy solution for treating chronic skin conditions at home or on the go, today announced a $43M Series B funding round led by 7wireVentures, joined by General Catalyst, Dragoneer, Cigna Ventures, Leverage Health Solutions, and Leaps by Bayer.
– In addition, Glen Tullman, Managing Partner of 7wireVentures, former Founder and CEO of Livongo, and Chief Executive Officer of Transcarent, will join as Executive Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors.
Connected Phototherapy Solution to Treat & Manage Chronic Skin Conditions
Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) light, which is present in natural sunlight, penetrates the skin and slows the growth of affected skin cells for psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, several studies indicate that NB-UVB light clears psoriasis faster and produces longer remissions than broadband UVB. It also may be effective with fewer treatments per week than broadband UVB.
Zerigo Health’s FDA-cleared, natural light therapy solution safely and effectively shifts dermatological care from the clinic to the controlled convenience of home, keeping physicians and their patients with chronic skin conditions connected with personalized data and insights. Patients can easily self-administer clinically proven, American Academy of Dermatology guideline-recommended narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy using a handheld device and smartphone app. Prescription dosing is controlled via secure cloud-based technology, helping to ensure that patients treat safely in accordance with their physicians’ prescriptions. Patients are also remotely monitored and given personal coaching and support throughout their treatment journey.
As an analogous model to Livongo, Zerigo uses a combination of tech and human touch to drive real-time intervention for people with chronic skin disorders, improving adherence and delivering superior health outcomes.
This round of funding will allow Zerigo Health to respond to the increasing demand for its innovative connected chronic skin condition solution for the over 40 million Americans living with psoriasis, vitiligo, and eczema.
Results/Outcomes
In a 2019 academic, peer-reviewed study published in the Dermatology Online Journal, Zerigo Health’s new and effective treatment for photo-responsive skin conditions enabled study participants with psoriasis to achieve 100% clearance within two weeks when topical corticosteroids were combined with Zerigo Health’s at-home light therapy solution after a ten-week monotherapy regimen was completed.
“At such an exciting time in the company’s development we are fortunate and excited to welcome our new and existing Series B investors, as well as Glen Tullman as our new Executive Chairman,” said John E. Schellhorn, President and CEO of Zerigo Health. “Zerigo Health continues to gain traction in the market and is well positioned to meet the growing demand by patients to be able to treat their chronic skin conditions wherever they may be. This new investment capital will help fuel our growth in the health plan and self-insured employer markets as they are eager to offer more cost effective and clinically proven solutions for treating these conditions.”
