OpenHand launched Sidekick, a real-time desktop companion for telehealth visits that explains medical terms, suggests questions, and provides visit summaries. The HIPAA-compliant tool prioritizes patient privacy with no ads or data selling, available now in early access for macOS and Windows.
Grindr is acquiring PurposeMed, parent company of HIV prevention telehealth provider Freddie, for $250 million to expand into healthcare and make PrEP more accessible to its users. The deal marks Grindr's first major acquisition since its 2009 founding and is expected to generate over $400 monthly revenue per active patient at scale.
Novo's real-world study found that patients switching from obesity injections to its new Wegovy pill continued losing weight, with participants losing an average of 4% of body weight over three months. The analysis suggests the pill may offer greater convenience than weekly injections while maintaining or improving weight loss outcomes, with 75% of patients satisfied with the switch.
A former GLP-1 telehealth startup founder analyzes how customer acquisition costs consume roughly two-thirds of patient payments, with Meta and Google capturing ad spending from primarily uninsured, low-income patients. The business model mirrors failed DTC subscription companies like Blue Apron and Casper, but telehealth faces unique structural barriers—regulatory restrictions on drug marketing, commodity products, insurance gatekeeping, and short retention—that eliminate traditional escape routes from the acquisition cost trap.