MetaMe Health Secures $3.8M Seed Funding to Advance Digital Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

On August 6, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that MetaMe Health had completed a $3.8 million seed funding round, led by the Israeli venture capital firm LionBird Ventures.

Following this round of financing, MetaMe Health will conduct trials of its digital therapeutic prescription, Regulura, in the coming months, with the study expected to be completed next year.

MetaMe Health, founded in 2016, specializes in the development of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Severe IBS has been shown to potentially lead to mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety. Existing pharmacological therapies are generally limited to specific patient populations and are associated with potential side effects. The company is developing Regulura, a digital hypnotherapy for treating IBS, which is also the first FDA-approved digital hypnotherapy for IBS. This therapy provides a standardized 12-week treatment program that alleviates patients’ symptoms by creating a sense of comfort through metaphorical stories before guiding them into a state of deep relaxation. MetaMe Health leverages technology to collect data generated during the treatment process and has established a digital therapeutic platform for gastrointestinal diseases.

Timothy Rudolphi, CEO of MetaMe Health, stated, “We are inspired by companies such as Express Scripts and CVS Health, which have launched digital health prescriptions and secured reimbursement through mechanisms similar to those for traditional pharmaceuticals.”

Dr. David Spiegel, Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, stated, “Hypnotherapy has been proven to alleviate pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) without causing any side effects. The need exists; when it works, it is helpful, and if it does not, it causes no harm. In the past, access to hypnotherapy was limited, resulting in a shortage of professionals trained in this technique. New digital models help bridge this gap. With the development of the internet, I believe it is entirely possible to make remotely delivered, effective hypnotherapy a reality.”

Rudolphi further stated, “There is a significant unmet need among patients with IBS, as their condition substantially impacts daily life. MetaMe’s clinical trials are recruiting both patients currently on existing pharmacological regimens and those not receiving any medication for IBS. I was truly struck by the level of acceptance; no one left saying it made no sense to them. Instead, everyone said, ‘You’ve really hit the nail on the head.’”

LionBird Ventures, established in 2012 and headquartered in Israel, focuses on investing in startups in the healthcare and commercial sectors.

(Compiled by Hu Yifan)