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One critical success factor for putting a dent in Fatty Liver disease – one we do not discuss very often on the podcast – is patient empowerment.  This conversation begins by carrying over thoughts on the future of digital therapeutics as a Pharma-supported patient wellness tool with advocates Michael Betel, Wayne Eskridge and Robert Mitchell-Thain.

Robert connects the idea with a comprehensive patient support tool the PBC Foundation has built for patients. Delivered as an app, this tool hosts features on disease information, self-care and ways the Foundation can provide service to patients. Robert offers a detailed glimpse into each of these functions. This prompts Wayne to ask a series of practical questions around the delivery of similar hypothetical tools in the Fatty Liver space: How will they be approved, prescribed and paid for? Robert returns to discuss the PBC Foundation free app as an example. Of the many benefits served, Robert highlights the app’s contribution toward surveying the patient population, their journey and improving experience through patient feedback. The ability to generate patient-centric data is invaluable for presentations to medical societies and whomever else can utilize it to improve self-care tools and experiences. Such efforts are pivotal in defense to what Robert terms the “psychological warfare” put forth by major food manufacturers. 

Roger then turns to Wayne and Michael, asking for something accomplished in the last year consistent with the charter of their organization. Wayne introduces a project called the Wellness League hosted by the Fatty Liver Foundation. This project is designed as an ecosystem for the nonprofit community to address the challenge of distributing information and promoting on-ground education. Michael celebrates the accomplishment of gaining Canadian charity status for the Fatty Liver Alliance.