SoundHealth unveils Sonu AI-enabled wearable device for allergies
SoundHealth, a medical technology company harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and medical science to improve patient outcomes, is introducing Sonu.
The device is the world’s first FDA De Novo-authorized, AI-enabled, wearable medical device for the treatment of moderate to severe nasal congestion due to allergic and non-allergic rhinitis for at-home use by individuals 22 years of age and older.
Sonu provides a new non-pharmaceutical treatment option for patients and clinicians. The Food and Drug Administration issued a De Novo classification for the SONU product, which includes the device and app.
In parallel with the official launch, SoundHealth received $7 million of seed-round funding. SoundHealth will use the funds to enhance commercialization and marketing for regulatory authorization, as well as additional indications for pediatric use and insomnia.
[Read more: CHPA, Health In Hand Foundation elect new board members at annual summit]
Moai Capital and J4 Ventures led the round with additional funding from TeleSoft Partners, Tau Ventures, TechU Ventures and Rhythm Venture Capital. Peter Moran, an early-stage investor in digital health and wellness companies, a former long-time managing partner at DCM Ventures, and a seed investor in SoundHealth, will join the SoundHealth board of directors. The investor syndicate has a long track record of successful investments in groundbreaking solutions from both enterprise and health tech startups.
“We are delighted to announce the close of our seed-round investment—the proceeds of which will be used for product launch and advancing our pipeline of indications for the Sonu device. Our groundbreaking technology provides the first FDA authorized, non-pharmaceutical medical device treatment option for nasal congestion due to allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. SoundHealth’s mission is to provide personalized, intelligent wearables to help people breathe and sleep better!” said Dr. Paramesh Gopi, founder and CEO of SoundHealth.
“Sonu is using the latest medical science to provide a game-changing and liberating alternative treatment for nasal congestion. Investors are increasingly looking for high-efficacy solutions to many maladies without the side effects of pharmaceutical approaches. I look forward to working with SoundHealth’s tenured team in helping many people find relief from nasal congestion with this simple yet powerful, non-invasive device without the side effects often associated with pharmaceuticals,” Moran said.
"We were especially struck by how quick and easy Sonu can bring relief to allergies, without using a drug. Future applications could include helping with sleep and stress," said Amit Garg, managing partner of Tau Ventures.
[Read more: How can retailers capture growth in consumer health care?]
The company said, "Sonu is an AI-enabled patented drug-free medical device that uses acoustic vibrational energy to provide personalized relief for nasal congestion. Acoustic vibration associated with humming has been shown to decrease symptoms of nasal congestion, possibly through modulation of autonomic inputs to the nasal mucosa or through nitric oxide activity, which may in turn exert a decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect on the nasal passages."