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DreaMed Diabetes is a medical device company that provides personalized diabetes treatment optimization solutions. The company was established in 2014 and commercialized its first product, MD-Logic artificial pancreas technology which was licensed to Medtronic Diabetes. Ever since, DreaMed has been vigorously working on the DreaMed Advisor portfolio, and decision support tools in the diabetes management space. DreaMed became the first and only company in the world to receive a CE Mark and FDA clearance for its DreaMed Advisor Pro, which is a decision support system for Type I diabetes patients using data from CGM/SMBG and insulin pumps. The company is continuing to develop the DreaMed Advisor portfolio, which aids all diabetics and their healthcare professionals no matter the insulin therapy or diabetes type to provide personalized insulin therapy. 

 

Leader with a Visionary Approach 

Eran Atlas is the CEO of DreaMed Diabetes. Eran Co-founded the company intending to improve diabetes care. He earned his M.Sc in Biomedical Engineering and MBA at Tel Aviv University after which he was a lecturer at the Afeka College of Engineering. In the beginning, during his tenure at the institute of Endo and Diabetes at Schnieder Hospital in Israel, Eran was part of the algorithm development team, where he had a firsthand experience in designing and executing clinical studies. After taking on the role of CEO, his focus shifted to leading the R&D team. Under his guidance, the team was responsible for building an organizational quality system and leading regulatory strategy and execution. Eran also prioritized on activities regarding commercial partnership development and finance. 

 

Redefining Diabetics Care with AI Offerings  

Eran believes that data equals power and algorithms can be leveraged on data to drive the better decision of therapy. In the field of diabetes, and especially when there is a need to make insulin dosing decisions, it is crucial to make the right decision at the right time. Today, there is a magnitude of data which is available about a diabetic's glucose levels, which is much more than what was available years ago, mainly due to the adoption of continuous glucose monitoring technology. It is more complex to reach the right decision because people with diabetes and their healthcare providers are overwhelmed by the amount of data. DreaMed strives to make this decision process easier by introducing a clinically validated and regulated AI technology that analyzes diabetes-related data and recommends the right decision about changes to the insulin treatment plan. 

 

Learning from Experiences and Peers 

Speaking about his journey so far, Eran finds himself fortunate to having the privilege to explore the pathway of development, clinical validation, regulatory approval and the commercial needs of bringing new technology to the market. It was challenging for him when he sought to do something unique and innovative since there  were no benchmarks for comparative analysis nor an experienced person who could advise him. Hence, one of the lessons that he learned from these instances was to always follow on what one believes and not allow anyone to distract by saying that something is impossible. On the other hand, it is also essential to recognize when one lacks the knowledge that is necessary to moving forward. "It is best to bring people that are smarter than you to the team instead of expecting yourself to be the smartest guy in the room," he adds. 

 

Delivering Unique Solutions in Uncharted Markets 

Eran shares, “Dealing with innovative technology solutions requires a company to be creative in multiple aspects to bring its product to the market. For example, one of the challenges DreaMed countered was how to regulate its technology. At the time, there was no other predictive device that the company could compare itself to. Therefore, DreaMed team had to approach the authorities (both in the EU and in the US) and brainstorm together on the right approach.” 

Moreover, devising ways to articulate the commercial model for AI-based digital health solutions was another challenge for the company. Eran speaks that this was difficult because it was not like selling bricks and motors. Instead, it involved industry stakeholders to engage with others and try to find the right pathway to monetize their technology. 

 

Hallmarks of an Excellent Leader 

According to Eran, every innovative leader should possess qualities like dedication to work assignments and visionary thinking. He mentions that a leader must be open-minded. Eran says, "It is okay not to know all of the aspects of the journey from idea to a product, but you should be mindful and open to accept the advice and opinions of your peers and external consultants." 

Apart from that, they should learn to adapt themselves in a manner that they are not astounded when they face sudden changes in innovation or market shifts. Also, they must be willing to accept that "the best is the enemy of the good". 

 

Driving Innovation by Integrating Technology 

Eran is optimistic that AI technology is entering into the healthcare market. With the vast amount of medical data that is available and the progress that is made concerning the regulation of medical software, he is certain that AI and ML will continue to be used to provide better care for everyone around the globe regardless of location. 

 

Envisioning Future with Business Success 

DreaMed is pushing forward to continue to innovate and use data to help people with diabetes and their care providers manage their condition. Eran is confident that the company will see some integration of contextual data in the recommendation of personalized dosing of insulin. In addition, DreaMed is focused on creating a way to give the right medicine based on a diabetic’s personal needs as opposed to being based on general treatment protocols. 

 

Words of Wisdom 

Eran emphasizes the need to understand the demands and expectations of the market which a company or a business leader is trying to penetrate and develop a transparent business model. On the other hand, he believes it is vital to keep the room to move in parallel with other activities, such as developing a prototype, presenting it to the target audience, and receiving their feedback. He also suggests that if one wishes to appeal to a specific target audience, they need to develop and maintain a close relationship in order to make sure the product and solutions fit to their actual needs.