
Empatica Receives FDA Approval for Two New Biomarkers on Wearable to Support Clinical Research
11-7-23 (by: Scott Gleason) Empatica, a leader in medical-grade wearables to support clinical trials, has achieved another significant milestone. The company announced on November 2, 2023, that it has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for two new digital biomarkers—pulse and respiratory rate. These clearances are an extension of their Empatica Health Monitoring Platform. Empatica’s Health Monitoring Platform, designed to provide comprehensive health monitoring, has gained recognition for offering FDA-cleared digital biomarkers for use in clinical trials. This achievement follows the initial FDA clearance that the Empatica Health Monitoring Platform received in November 2022, which included clinically validated digital biomarkers for Electrodermal Activity, SpO2, skin temperature, and movement during sleep. These biomarkers are part of a collection of 128 digital measures supported by the platform, presenting a diverse range of data for healthcare professionals and researchers to utilize. The device has the most sensor technology of any medical wearable currently on the market and was developed in collaboration with key partners, including the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), US Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), and the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH). The device has been used to support clinical trials including studies for therapeutics for epilepsy and sleep apnea studies.
Marisa Cruz, Chief Medical Officer at Empatica, expressed her delight regarding the expansion of the Empatica Health Monitoring Platform. She emphasized that the addition of pulse rate and respiratory rate to their FDA-cleared biomarkers exemplifies their dedication to rigorous analytical and clinical validation of digital biomarkers. The platform’s purpose is to serve clinical research and patient care, and its constant evolution is indicative of how trustworthy, accurate, and user-friendly technology can support the development of novel therapeutics and ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes.