Bayer to Acquire HiDoc Technologies & Cara Care App for Digital Health Solutions

Cara Care offers a holistic, personalized approach to managing IBS, helping patients understand their condition better and control symptoms more effectively.

Bayer has announced plans to acquire HiDoc Technologies GmbH in the first quarter of 2025. The acquisition will include the commercialization of the digital health application Cara Care, which is the first prescribed app for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Cara Care offers a holistic, personalized approach to managing IBS, helping patients understand their condition better and control symptoms more effectively.

IBS, which affects approximately 11.1% of the population in Germany, presents a significant challenge due to its complex underlying causes and varying symptom severity.

For many patients, obtaining a formal diagnosis is the beginning of a long and difficult journey. Cara Care aims to support these patients by offering personalized, supplementary treatments in addition to pharmacological therapies.

Cara Care integrates multidisciplinary therapeutic elements, including diet and psychology, in line with the German S3 treatment guidelines. It helps patients with gastrointestinal symptoms by providing education on IBS and evidence-based support in diet and psychotherapy.

The app includes personalized therapy plans, tracking features, and recipe suggestions to aid patients in managing their condition.

“The Cara Care digital health app is another important therapeutic component that enables physicians to provide sustainable, guideline-compliant care for their patients. With Cara Care, patients can improve their understanding of IBS, modify their behavior, and experience better symptom relief and improved quality of life,” said Linda Obermeyr, Senior HCP Marketing Manager at Bayer Vital.

Addressing Psychological Co-morbidities

In addition to its focus on gastrointestinal symptoms, Cara Care also addresses psychological co-morbidities, such as anxiety and depression, which are often overlooked in standard clinical practice.

This feature allows for more comprehensive care by considering the mental health aspects that affect many IBS patients.

David Evendon-Challis, Head of R&D and Strategic Marketing & Digital at Bayer’s Consumer Health Division, explained, “IBS is common and highly disruptive, but its complexity means that many patients struggle to understand the condition, its risk factors, and preventive measures. This digital tool will help them manage IBS more effectively and have better conversations with their healthcare providers.”

Bayer’s Strategic Expansion

The acquisition of HiDoc Technologies marks a strategic expansion of Bayer’s digital health portfolio.

HiDoc Technologies has developed Cara Care as the first approved digital health app for IBS in Germany, making it a leader in the digital health space.

With this acquisition, Bayer aims to enhance its position in the self-medication and digital health sectors, supporting its mission of providing holistic and sustainable therapeutic approaches.

Jim Mapes, CEO of HiDoc Technologies, said, “Digital health applications are a good way of providing holistic, sustainable therapeutic approaches. This was always our goal for Cara Care and aligns with Bayer’s vision of ‘Health for all, Hunger for none.’”

HiDoc Technologies GmbH, based in Hamburg, Germany, is a pioneer in digital health solutions. The company’s Cara Care app is the first and currently only approved digital health application for IBS in Germany.

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