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Dandelion Health has spent years developing an advanced, multimodal data extraction model to glean insights from all parts of a patient's record, including MRIs and ECGs. Health tech startup Dandelion Health launched a clinical artificial intelligence marketplace that merges third-party algorithms and Dandelion's data platform and model validation capabilities to supplement clinical trials.The company, a real-world data platform focused on clinical analytics and precision medicine, expects the marketplace to exponentially grow the business and possibly transform the industry.Dandelion’s core competency is validating AI/machine learning algorithms. The startup’s aim is to use the highest-quality data to build out the next phase of AI in healthcare.To show proof of concept for the clinical AI marketplace, Dandelion released a study, performed on its data, on the efficacy of GLP-1s to reduce cardiovascular disease risk on a previously unstudied population. The results were in line with Novo Nordisk’s clinical trial results.In May, the company launched a GLP-1 data library as a multimodal real-world clinical data set built to surface insights and opportunities related to the GLP-1 receptor agonist drug class. They worked with Sharp HealthCare; Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Texas Health Resources to collect structured and unstructured data for more than 10 million patients. “We took an algorithm from a partner in Germany, from Pheiron, and we ran it through a data set that we already have, and we compared it then to a clinical trial to show in really practical detail, how could AI just really impact clinical research in a way that people haven't foreseen?” Elliott Green, co-founder and CEO of Dandelion Health, told Fierce Healthcare in an interview.In the marketplace, there are AI algorithms from various developers and structured and unstructured real-world data. Dandelion says life sciences companies, particularly drug developers, will be able to run studies on the validated algorithms in a fraction of the time it takes to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT).For example, Dandelion’s proof-of-concept study, which included 4 million patients, was conducted in six weeks.“It's the raw waveforms, it's the ECGs, which is what allowed us to do this study. It's all of those things that you kind of wonder, where do they store this and where does it go? And the answer is, in very weird places it take an incredibly long time to find and so that's what we've spent three to four years doing, is building the pipes to extract that information," Green said.The primary use case Green foresees in the near term is for biopharma companies to understand other uses for their drugs, like if a heart failure drug could impact hypertension. Elaborating on this example, Green said that Dandelion has multiple algorithms that do ECG to hypertension predictions or diagnoses. Dandelion can then run the company’s question against the patient data it has, using an algorithm developed by a third party.“Clinical trials cost billions upon billions of dollars and take many, many, many years. And AI is one of the short, most surefire ways they have of attempting to shorten and cheapen that process," he said.Being able to use this AI experiment could save time and money for life sciences companies. While an AI-generated study can’t yet be used for purposes of FDA clearance, Green said that it could be used alongside a RCT.Eventually, Dandelion Health thinks that AI-generated biomarkers and endpoints could be incorporated into RCTs and even approved by the FDA.The clinical AI marketplace could ultimately engender more trust in AI for healthcare delivery organizations to use AI in clinical practice once the product is more built out.“An algorithm that spots hypertension for a life sciences company could also be a diagnostic tool or clinical decision support tool for a physician within a hospital system,” Green said.He also noted the results of AI clinical studies could be valuable for payers to understand the benefit of a treatment to a broader patient population.By being involved in the clinical AI marketplace, AI developers have the opportunity to have their model validated, trusted and utilized.“For AI developers, it's incredibly important because it gives you an ability to use your algorithm in a way that hasn't historically been possible, because without validation, you can't prove that it does what it says. So now we validate it, we use our data, we make it plausible,” Green said.

NEW YORK--( BUSINESS WIRE )--The annual cost trend for medical plans is projected to increase to 8 percent, according to new data from the 2025 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey , released by leading benefits and HR consulting firm Segal . Survey respondents anticipate that medical plan costs will rise higher than any of the previous 15 years of reported actuals, aside from the COVID rebound year of 2021. Price inflation is the dominant factor on medical costs, as providers, suppliers and manufacturers seek to maintain or rebuild margins in the face of their own increased costs. This year’s survey also found that the high price tag and surging utilization of GLP-1s for weight loss treatment are causing prescription drug plans to become significantly more expensive. While these medications can be effective at achieving near-term weight loss, the health benefit and time horizon for potentially offsetting the cost benefit from that improved health is yet to be determined. The cost-benefit analysis for anti-obesity medications (AOMs) is different from other interventions, due both to the high price point and demand among lower-risk individuals. It may require years or even decades of sustained results before potentially avoiding health issues on the severity level of a major adverse cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke. In the meantime, these medications have caused a surge in prescription drug spending, which is expected to continue rising. The weight loss drug coverage conundrum is present in the top cost management strategies for 2025, as the survey’s top two strategies are related to managing GLP-1s. All of the top five cost management strategies are related to prescription drugs or managing conditions like diabetes or obesity. Many employers are still determining the optimal approach for covering weight loss drugs, while also serving as effective stewards of plan funds. In addition, Segal’s survey report shows health plans are leveraging new virtual tools and health programs to manage chronic conditions as part of a holistic strategy. There is also increased interest and optimism in plans working to achieve better financial results through the use of biosimilars and custom prescription drug formularies. “The urgent focus for health plans in 2025 is addressing obesity, and what role anti-obesity medications should or should not play in that strategy,” said Eric Miller, Vice President and Consulting Actuary in the National Health Consulting and Analytics practice at Segal. “Employers want to provide robust health benefits to their employees and families to maintain healthy lifestyles, including being at a healthy weight. However, the high cost, high demand, and varying time horizons for realizing improved health outcomes creates a challenge for optimizing the use of GLP-1s, and that challenge is expected to escalate in 2025 and beyond.” Additional key survey findings include: For 2025, specialty drug trend is projected to be 13.3 percent primarily due to utilization of new pricey specialty drugs replacing lower-cost therapies. Trend projections for dental provider organizations (DPO) are 4.5 percent. Expected vision trend is 3.0 percent for reasonable and customary (R&C) plans. Projected medical trend for Medicare-eligible retirees with Medicare Advantage (MA) PPO plans is 4.9 percent, but the Medicare Part D trend is 8.9 percent. The survey report also reveals facts and figures derived from Segal’s proprietary data warehouse to provide additional context for health plans regarding: Trends in cancer care, including the most common types and recommendations for preventive screenings. Mental health services, including top diagnoses and the impact of virtual visits. Prescription drug trends, including the top therapeutic classes and individual drugs. The Segal survey, now in its 28 th year, is recognized as one of the most definitive surveys on employer-sponsored health plans and provides industry-leading guidance on how plan sponsors can alleviate the stress of health costs. Participants include health insurers, managed care organizations (MCOs), pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and third-party administrators (TPAs). Survey respondents represent about 80 percent of the commercially insured and self-insured market. Respondents shared their trend forecasts for medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage and actual health cost trends based on their group health plan experience. About Segal Segal delivers trusted advice that improves lives. Segal is a privately owned benefits, human capital, communications, technology, insurance brokerage and investment consulting firm with more than 1,000 employees throughout the U.S. and Canada. Segal , Segal Marco Advisors and Segal Benz are all members of the Segal family.