Virtual reality (VR) therapeutics developer AppliedVR raised a $36m Series B round ($71m total funding) to fuel growth as it awaits a decision from the FDA on its first de-novo submission for pain management.
- AppliedVR combines VR-based cognitive-behavioral therapies with mindfulness exercises to help manage chronic pain, with patients reporting reductions in the daily life interference caused by their pain for up to several months after treatment.
- EaseVRx is the company’s flagship product awaiting FDA approval, standing out as the first VR prescription therapeutic to receive breakthrough device designation for treatment-resistant fibromyalgia and chronic intractable lower back pain.
- Research published in JMIR found that EaseVRx produced “clinically meaningful” improvement in pain outcomes, and AppliedVR is investing heavily in building evidence demonstrating its therapeutics as effective for patients, scalable for providers, and viable for reimbursement.
- The latest funding will be used to prepare for EaseVRx’s full market launch after FDA approval, as well as to build out its product pipeline that includes RelieVRx (for acute postoperative pain) and AnxietyVRx (for generalized anxiety treatment).
Industry Impact
Although other startups such as XRHealth are pursuing the therapeutic VR space, none have AppliedVR’s established client roster (AppliedVR partners with over 200 health systems) or supporting body of research.
Following its Series B, AppliedVR has a lot of momentum in a chronic pain market estimated to negatively impact the economy to the tune of $635b annually. EaseVRx’s FDA approval would provide another tailwind to help the company be among the first to make VR pain management a reality.
