Blue Mesa Health Inc. to Partner with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany on Diabetes Prevention Program Pilot Programs Outside of the USA

Blue Mesa Health Inc., New York, NY, today announced a partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to pilot its CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Programs in territories outside of the United States.

Founded in 2015, Blue Mesa Health has designed and commercialized two chronic disease prevention programs based on the CDC's landmark National Diabetes Prevention Program. Transform is a year-long lifestyle change program that integrates remote health coaching from dieticians, a peer support group, and the integration of smartphone app technology with connected bathroom scales and activity trackers. Transformemos is a Spanish-language program currently available in the US market for Spanish speakers.

"We are thrilled to partner with a leading science and technology company like Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. We have seen such great success helping people across America prevent or significantly delay the onset of type 2 diabetes," said Curtis Duggan, CEO, Blue Mesa Health. "Although we are not releasing any specific details on targeted territories, we are looking forward to helping more people outside of the United States manage their risk for type 2 diabetes. Chronic disease is a global problem and, frankly, an issue of national competitiveness as health care systems worldwide continue to grapple with the impact of chronic disease on society and on the economy."

Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany is a global leading player in the type 2 Diabetes area and originator of the orally administered antihyperglycemic drug Glucophage® (metformin) which has more than sixty years of clinical use and is the first line recommended monotherapy in the type 2 diabetes treatment guidelines. In May 2017, Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany received label extension for the administration of Glucophage® for non-diabetic hyperglycemia (commonly known as prediabetes) in the United Kingdom and is currently seeking this indication in additional countries worldwide.

"We look forward to working with Blue Mesa Health to pilot a behavioral change program. At Merck we are continuously striving to improve the lives of patients with diabetes, and we believe expanding our current pharmacological portfolio into an integrated disease management offering will have a tremendous impact on treatment outcomes, said Daniel Ruggiero, Head of Diabetes Strategy at Merck KGaA.  "Chronic diseases are changing the nature of healthcare and the needs of patients. Blue Mesa is in a unique position to deliver culturally tailored diabetes prevention programs to patients around the world."