Melissa Manice, CoheroHealth, CEO and Co-founder
With 50 million Americans suffering from asthma or COPD, it’s no surprise that so many startups have focused their attention on the respiratory space. Few, however, have gained as much traction as CoheroHealth, whose hardware (a sensor-enabled spirometer) and software (a gamified app) combo has generated excitement among patients and physicians well in advance of the company’s commercial debut. “We’ve built the best mousetrap for pulmonary,” Manice says.
She’s kidding around, but if CoheroHealth’s mousetrap passes pilot muster, it could revolutionize treatment and adherence in the asthma/COPD space. The sensor-enabled spirometer transmits patient data directly to the doctor, who can scan it for signs of an imminent adverse event or identify whether a medication is having the desired effect. “Right now, doctors send patients home with medications and a pen-and-paper-based action plan, then you take readings and bring them back to the doctor,” Manice explains. “But we’re at a point where digital technology can make this an automated and engaging experience. There’s no reason to stay data-dumb when the technology allows us to be data-smart.”
