Country for PR: Japan
Contributor: Kyodo News JBN
Tuesday, November 24 2020 - 18:00
AsiaNet
OMRON Strengthens Engagement with AliveCor with Series E Investment, Reinforces Cross-company Alliance for Remote Cardiovascular Condition Management
KYOTO, Nov. 24, 2020 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ --

OMRON Healthcare Co., Ltd. announced on November 24 additional investment into 
AliveCor by its parent company, OMRON Corporation, as part of $65 million 
series E funding for the leader in AI-based personal electrocardiogram (ECG) 
technology. OMRON led this round of investment, reinforcing the cross-company 
collaboration that began in 2017. The companies continue to build on their 
global alliance to accelerate development of solutions for cardiovascular 
disease management and remote patient monitoring utilizing ECG technology.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202011197369-O1-zJaluzz0

"OMRON is committed to developing life-saving cardiovascular health 
technologies in pursuit of our 'Going for Zero' vision to eliminate heart 
attacks and strokes. It is a lofty goal and, as we said when we evolved our 
vision, we cannot do it alone. That is why we seek like-minded partners, like 
AliveCor, to advance our initiatives and work together to save lives," said 
Isao Ogino, president and CEO of OMRON Healthcare. 

"Over one billion adults are hypertensive worldwide (*1), and their risk of 
stroke is nearly five times greater (*2) if they also suffer from Afib (atrial 
fibrillation). Hypertension is also an underlying health condition which 
increases the risk of complications with COVID-19 (*3). The ability to monitor 
both blood pressure and heart rhythm at home is essential for early detection, 
treatment and management of these cardiovascular health conditions.

"Our alliance with AliveCor will help enhance our current technology portfolio 
and provide hypertensive patients and healthcare professionals with data that 
can save lives--a complete picture of patients' cardiovascular health that can 
be achieved with personal remote monitoring technology used at home. We 
continue to explore and develop new technologies to enhance the accessibility 
of home monitoring that help people to manage their condition, and will engage 
partners like AliveCor to ensure this technology is best-in-market, further 
accelerating our remote patient monitoring business to achieve our goal, Going 
for Zero," said Ogino.

OMRON's expanded investment into AliveCor builds upon the companies' ongoing 
collaboration. OMRON expanded its blood pressure monitor portfolio with the 
launch of "Complete" (TM) the first blood pressure monitor with ECG capability 
in a single device and the first FDA-cleared technology developed in 
collaboration with AliveCor in 2019. Currently available in the U.S. at 
OmronHealthcare.com and participating retailers, expanded distribution of 
Complete (TM) is expected in other regions globally during the company's fourth 
quarter.

Notes:
(*1)World Health Organization: Hypertension 
( https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension )

(*2)American Heart Association: High Blood Pressure, AFib and Your Risk of 
Stroke
( 
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/why-atrial-fibrillation-af-or-afib-matters/high-blood-pressure-afib-and-your-risk-of-stroke 
)

(*3)CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions 
( 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html 
)

About OMRON Healthcare
Committed to helping people live more active and fulfilling lives, OMRON 
Healthcare is a global leader in the field of clinically proven, innovative 
medical equipment for health monitoring and therapy. Throughout its history, 
OMRON has been striving to improve lives and contribute to a better society by 
developing innovations that help people prevent, treat and manage their medical 
conditions, both at home and in clinical practice in over 110 countries. OMRON 
provides the world's No.1 blood pressure monitors and the company's additional 
core categories are respiratory care, pain management and wellness products. 
The company also develops remote patient-monitoring service in the field of 
cardiovascular condition management.


Source: OMRON Healthcare Co., Ltd.