Health
Blackstone Is Using AI to Control Diabetes and Slash Spending on Drugs
- App works on diet, exercise and weight to avoid pricey drugs
- Drugs like Ozempic push up costs when used for weight loss
Blackstone headquarters in New York.
Photographer: Angus Mordant/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Blackstone Inc. is trying to curb rising employee health costs with an AI-powered individualized approach to diabetes to reduce people’s reliance on costly new drugs. Early results are promising.
The private equity giant is testing a program from startup Twin Health with workers across 14 of its portfolio companies. The app is designed to help diabetics rely less on expensive drugs to lose weight and control their blood sugar. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes often move from older, lower-priced drugs onto newer pricey treatments made by Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly & Co. that can cost around $10,000 a year.