In a new bid to spur Malaysia’s digital health growth, Duopharma Biotech Berhad (“Duopharma Biotech” or “the Company”), a leading Malaysian pharmaceutical company, has agreed to invest USD250,000 into Naluri Hidup Sdn. Bhd. (“Naluri”) via a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (“SAFE”) on 10 April 2020.
Naluri, a local pioneer in digital therapeutics, has developed a proprietary application platform called “Naluri App”. The “Naluri App” is a digital health platform, which combines behavioural science, data science, as well as digital design, to offer a holistic health management programme for users.
The programme is targeted to improve the health of those with risks of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and mental health.
A key feature of the “Naluri App” is multi-disciplinary professional health coaching by qualified psychologists, dietitians, doctors, pharmacists, fitness coaches and other advisors to provide tailored and personalised coaching in a scalable way through instant messaging.
The professional health coaching is supplemented by digital features including an Artificial Intelligence-powered food journal, a thought journal, a health curriculum of daily modules, and a planner that includes reminders and tracking for medication adherence.
Commenting on this new initiative, Duopharma Biotech’s Group Managing Director, Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar, said that one of the Group’s primary strategies is the innovative use of emerging technologies to provide smarter solutions for a healthier life for all.
“We are confident that Naluri’s concept and platform will be seamlessly integrated into its Specialty and Consumer Healthcare businesses and help to offer premium health packages for its customers,” he said.
He also added that the importance of good health has never been so dramatically demonstrated as in the current global pandemic.
“As encouraged by the Government, I am heartened to see many instances in our nation of a more collaborative approach, which is fundamental to better empower us all to overcome current challenges.”
In a statement, Azran Osman Rani, Naluri’s Chief Executive Officer adds, “We are excited with this strategic partnership with Duopharma Biotech as it enables us to enhance Naluri’s capabilities to serve specific chronic disease therapeutic areas to build an evidence-base of repeatable health improvements”.
Duopharma Biotech is proud to be leading an investment into Naluri, together with other international and local venture capital firms and private investors.
This round brings Naluri’s total funding to over USD3 million to date. This is ahead of the next proposed equity fund raising event expected by early 2021.
This investment constitutes another milestone in Duopharma Biotech’s strategy to innovate and adopt emerging technologies such as digital therapeutics into its portfolio of offering.
Duopharma Biotech intends to develop various use cases utilising Naluri’s technology platform for its Specialty businesses areas such as Diabetes, Renal, Oncology and Cardiology as well as Consumer Health Care business.
