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PharmStars Digital Health Accelerator White Logo

Accelerating pharma-digital health partnerships

Watch this space!

Applications now being accepted for PharmStars’ 8th cohort focused on “Digital Innovations in Rare Disease”

Watch this space!

Deadline extended to 23:59 EST Wednesday Feb 9, 2020

Apply Now!

Watch this space!

Deadline extended to 23:59 EST Wednesday Feb 9, 2020

Subscribe to our newsletter today to be alerted when applications open.

applications being accepted

Applications now being accepted for PharmStars' 8th cohort focused on:

Digital Innovations in Rare Disease

Applications close in:
00
DAYS
00
HRS
00
MIN
00
SEC
Apply Now!

About PharmStarsTM

PharmStars is the pharma-focused accelerator for digital health startups, dedicated to driving digital health adoption to improve patient outcomes. We educate and mentor digital health startups seeking engagement with pharma and biotech firms. We are supported by our pharma members who are committed to working with startups that graduate from our accelerator.

PharmStars  mission is to facilitate and accelerate successful partnerships between digital health startups and pharma, leading to greater success for each and faster adoption of digital health to improve patient outcomes.

7

Cohorts

completed

79

Graduate

startups

98.8%

Graduation

rate

$900M+

Cumulative
funding

raised by alumni

100+

Pharma Deals

Among first 35 graduates

17%

Acceptance

rate

Promise of digital health

Digital health has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical industry and the patient experience. Digital health and pharma firms are eager to engage with one another. Yet both have found it challenging to create successful partnerships.

Bridging the pharma-startup gap

Digital health has the potential to transform the pharmaceutical industry and the patient experience. Digital health and pharma firms are eager to engage with one another. Yet both have found it challenging to create successful partnerships.

PharmStars is a novel digital health accelerator aimed at bridging the pharma-startup gap to drive greater adoption of digital health. Our 10-week accelerator program is designed to prepare startups for more productive engagements with pharma by teaching them what they need to know. The program culminates with the Showcase Event. Startups present their solutions to our pharma members and then have the opportunity to meet individually with them.

"Our mission is to facilitate and accelerate successful partnerships between digital health startups and pharma, leading to greater success for each and faster adoption of digital health to improve patient outcomes."
- Naomi Fried PhD, Founder & CEO, PharmStars

Accelerator Highlights

Our next cohort is about to launch! Digital health startups, with market-ready solutions in our theme area and interested in engaging with pharma, are encouraged to apply. Please refer to our Accelerator Terms for the detailed requirements.

Our next cohort is about to launch! Digital health startups, with market-ready solutions in our theme area and interested in engaging with pharma, are encouraged to apply. Please refer to our Program Terms for the detailed requirements.

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Cohort Theme: Digital Innovations in Rare Disease

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Pharma Curriculum

Personalized
Mentoring

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Pitch Presentation
to Pharma

Startup
Funding

Graduate School

Spring 2025 Cohort Theme:
Digital Innovations in Rare Disease

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, a rare disease is a condition affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans1. Globally, it is estimated that over 400 million people2 (more than 5% of the population) have a rare disease or condition, with 30 million in the US alone suffering from one of over 10,000 rare diseases.

Individuals living with a rare disease face numerous challenges, including limited awareness, prolonged delays in diagnosis, limited access to care, insufficient therapies, and emotional distress. Given the significant unmet needs in this area, pharma firms are increasingly prioritizing the development of therapies for rare diseases. Additionally, the US government is incentivizing rare disease drug development through financial and regulatory support.

Digital health innovations have the potential to transform every aspect of rare diseases, from drug development and clinical trials to patient care and patient, family, and provider support.

PharmStars’ Spring 2025 cohort theme is “Digital Innovations in Rare Disease,” addressing the unique challenges associated with rare diseases. We invite applications from startups with digital innovations relating to any rare disease.  Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

Identifying individuals with rare disease

  • Finding patients, despite the small populations
  • Overcoming the geographic dispersion of patients
  • Accessing and leveraging genetic data for patient identification

Diagnosing rare disease

  • Raising patient and provider awareness
  • Reducing delays in diagnosis
  • Developing novel biomarkers and diagnostics
  • Addressing genetic heterogeneity within certain rare diseases

Designing and executing rare disease clinical trials

  • Identifying and establishing trial sites
  • Collecting and monitoring patient data across disparate geographies
  • Enhancing patient support and education during trials
  • Navigating rare-disease-specific regulatory requirements
  • Tackling ethical challenges in treating small populations

Enhancing rare disease care

  • Providing resources for patients and families
  • Improving care coordination among providers
  • Supporting long-term patient engagement and follow-up

Digital health startups that have an innovative clinical trial product or prototype are encouraged to apply.  The application deadline is July 15, 2024. For details and program requirements, please refer to the Program Terms.

Oncology drug discovery tools
  • Target identification and selection
  • Drug candidate selection
Oncology drug delivery platforms
Clinical trials tools
  • Participant recruitment and retention
  • Trial design and execution
  • Personalized treatment and health equity
Provider tools for:
  • Information management and therapy selection
  • Cancer detection and diagnosis
  • Remote patient monitoring
Patient care solutions for:
  • Side effect management
  • Medication adherence
  • Communication, navigation, and education
  • Caregiver support

    Spring 2025 Timeline

    Applications open

    January 2

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    Applications due

    January 26

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    Acceptances sent

    March 4

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    Launch Event

    March 18 - 19

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    Virtual PharmaU

    March 24 - May 15

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    Showcase Event

    May 2025

    PharmaUTM

    The centerpiece of the PharmStars accelerator is PharmaU: a unique, comprehensive educational program. Its three components are a curriculum for startups, mentoring for startups, and "Executive Ed" courses for pharma. PharmaU’s courses are developed and led by PharmStars’ experienced team of former pharma executives with deep expertise in digital health, innovation, and startups.

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    Curriculum

    Courses for startups about how to engage pharma successfully include topics such as:

    • drug development process
    • pharma’s internal structures and functions
    • pharma business models
    • regulatory drivers
    • pharma-startup deal structures
    Picture - person crossing a bridge whilst its being built in front of them

    Mentoring

    Individualized coaching from our PharmStars staff on how startups can successfully engage pharma. We guide startups through the process, from building a compelling value proposition through crafting an effective pitch.

    Executive Education

    Workshops and seminars for pharma members, providing insight and peer-to-peer discussions on how to successfully implement digital health programs and partnerships.

    2022 Spring Cohort Theme Coming Soon

    Are You Ready?

    PharmStars Spring 2025 Cohort begins March 18, 2025!