USA – Akili Interactive announced a partnership with online entertainment platform Roblox, with the goal of connecting patients’ medical treatments to their favorite virtual worlds.
EndeavorRx promotes itself as an FDA-approved treatment for ADHD in children aged 8 to 12. The game, which doctors can prescribe to their patients, rewards them for navigating obstacles and completing tasks in a series of fantasy worlds.
Doctors have been able to prescribe it since it was approved for attention deficit hypersensitivity disorder (ADHD) treatment in 2020.
According to a press release, Roblox, its own mini-metaverse, is collaborating with Akiki Interactive, the creators of attention deficit disorder treatment EndeavorRx, to “create new ways for patients to engage in health through the Roblox platform.”
This collaboration effectively grants Akili access to its 55 million active users, according to the most recent figure provided by the company in February.
According to Axios, EndeavorRx will connect to the Roblox platform to assist in unlocking items such as badges, pets, and other customization options seen in the therapeutic game.
The rewards are linked to how players who use the game for ADHD therapy use medicine or complete other tasks assigned by the game.
In the beginning, the companies will establish an exclusive Roblox rewards exchange linked to Akili’s EndeavorRx immersive video game-based treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
The EndeavorRx is also being tested for pediatric ADHD in Japan, and it is being researched in the United States to help people who are experiencing cognitive dysfunction after recovering from COVID-19.
Akili CEO Eddie Martucci said “[our] long-term vision aims to integrate digital medicine into patients’ daily lives in ways never before seen or experienced.”
He added that Roblox has “changed how millions learn, work, connect and play, and we are excited to work together to further push the boundaries of our industries and continue to redefine the experience of medicine.”
Roblox, on the other hand, sees itself as a full-fledged metaverse platform, with fashion, entertainment, sports, and now mental health on its platform.
Though this new partnership appears to be harmless, Roblox has already become a platform for other services such as Spotify to advertise, thanks to its large population of very young players.
The companies also stated that they intend to explore additional new approaches and opportunities to engage Akili patients through integration with Roblox’s platform.
Akili announced plans to go public in January through a merger with special purpose acquisition company Social Capital Suvretta Holding.
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