Leap Year Edition
Relentless RoundUp
Special Leap Year Edition
Tenderness. That is my word of choice for 2024.
I chose tenderness to ground me for the year ahead. Personally, and professionally.
Not as in ‘I feel pain when my abdomen is touched’, but the noun that is generally defined as a combination of love and kindness. It can also be known to encompass resilience, determination, insight, optimism, compassion, hope and empathy.
Tenderness for myself. Tenderness for others. In my work world, my play world, and all the overlapping Venn diagram bits in between. Apropos to share with my community as we close out heart health month.
February is Heart Month – Keep on Stepping
Have you embraced this year’s Heart Health Month with a little extra passion? 2024 is a leap year, we get one bonus day. Tomorrow! One extra day to act, take steps, refresh our step strategy. When was the last time you checked that little heart icon on your iPhone that automatically tracks your step count? Or are you a classic Fitbit or pedometer user? Or do you go for walking time? It really doesn’t matter which tool you use to motivate, just move. Simply putting one foot in front of the other can mean big steps forward for your heart health.
Valentine’s Week & Clinical News on the Conference Circuit
This year, Valentine’s delivered an entire week of love to the Relentless portfolio. While there was no chocolate involved, much to my chagrin, the data and clinical announcements were delicious and made us swoon.
1. Modality.AI. On Monday Feb 12th, CEO David Suendermann-Oeft (“DSO”) unveiled data at the SCOPE Conference (Summit for Clinical Ops Executives) from their recently completed clinical trial with Johnson & Johnson and Veterans Affairs. In a session entitled “The Promise of Speech and Video in Cognitive Evaluation”, DSO shared how healthy participants compared to individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (“MCI”). Overall, the study demonstrated that facial, speech and cognitive metrics can be used to distinguish MCI patients and healthy controls. This preliminary clinical validation is a major step in demonstrating the utility of Modality’s platform to track and assess a neurocognitive condition that is often subtle in both onset and development.
2. Canary Medical. Meanwhile, also on Feb 12th Canary Medical announced their first-in-human implant of a heart sound monitor. In a limited feasibility trial of Canary’s cardiac auscultation monitoring device, this first-in-class implantable sensor provides daily adjunctive objective cardiac parameter measurements. The cardiac auscultation monitoring device was trialed for use with heart failure patients as an adjunct to care in monitoring the effectiveness of congestive heart failure medication management. Canary expects this implant will ultimately enable patients and clinicians to better manage congestive heart failure symptoms. Hospitalizations for heart failure are a huge burden on the healthcare system. In fact, it remains the number one cause of hospitalizations in the US for the Medicare population.
While Canary has become famous for commercializing the world’s first smart orthopedic (a ‘smart knee’ that happens to also count those steps automatically!!), they have taken their deep expertise in sensor miniaturization and applied it to cardiovascular (CV) care. Truly exciting to have the first CV product in the Relentless portfolio, and to have the news released during heart health month and just ahead of Valentine’s Day.
3. LUCID. In the afterglow of Valentine’s, on Thursday, Feb 15th at the OBIO Conference, Lucid CEO Zach McMahon revealed data from the proof-of-concept trial recently concluded with Alzheimer’s patients. In our last newsletter we shared a sneak peek. The update is that use of the lead product, ResonanceRx (AI-generated music as medicine digital therapy) also increased patient valence (positive mood). Practitioners who have begun to integrate ResonanceRx into their practice are also securing Medicare reimbursement – a major business milestone for the company. Feels like cupid hit the mark.
Relentless Market Momentum
FUND I -- We were delighted to have Fund I selected as part of the Canadian Venture Capital Association’s “CVCA Top 50” profiled venture funds in Canada, 2024 edition. What makes us unique? Why profile Relentless in the Top 50 catalogue? Because we have been building a portfolio that addresses the challenges of our aging society since 2018. Our team has made investments in remote care strategies underpinned by artificial intelligence and data driven analytics for years. Our investments promote equitable access to healthcare for our seniors, our Indigenous communities, Canadians who live in remote and rural regions and other vulnerable populations.
FUND II – From delighted to thrilled. We know that our extensive experience and commitment as summarized above is resonating with potential investors. Just before the end of 2023, Realize Capital announced their lead commitment for Fund II, the new Relentless Health Pursuit Fund. It was a stellar way to close out last year and terrific momentum to start 2024.
We hope in these remaining hours of heart month, and for the rest of 2024, you take some time and focus on what you can preventatively do to improve your heart health. I’ll be cheering you on, with tenderness.