Ervin Ukaj, CEO, Drives Newel Health’s Growth Through Digital Medicine Innovation
Published: 2026 | Author: VisionariesNetwork Team
Scaling a digital health business requires more than scientific expertise. It calls for a clear understanding of how healthcare works, what patients need, and how promising medical innovations can reach the market. For Ervin Ukaj, CEO of Newel Health, these priorities come together in his approach to growing a business built around digital medicine. Since joining the company in 2024, he has focused on strengthening its commercial capabilities, developing strategic partnerships, and extending the market reach of its technology and medical solutions.
Ukaj brings international experience across digital health, clinical innovation, and growth strategy. His career includes senior roles at Novartis, along with entrepreneurial experience building and scaling science-based digital health businesses across Canada, the United States, Europe, and China. Working across different markets has given him exposure to the varied requirements of healthcare systems and the practical considerations involved in bringing new solutions to patients. At Newel Health, he draws on this experience to connect scientific development with commercial priorities.
Turning Scientific Strength into Business Growth
For Ukaj, one of the central responsibilities of leadership is ensuring that innovation translates into meaningful market opportunities. Digital medical solutions must demonstrate their value to patients and healthcare professionals, while also meeting clinical, regulatory, and commercial requirements. Moving from product development to wider adoption therefore involves careful planning, appropriate partnerships, and a clear understanding of the markets a company intends to serve.
At Newel Health, Ukaj is working to strengthen commercial execution while building relationships that can support the company's next stage of development. Strategic partnerships are particularly important in digital medicine, where pharmaceutical companies, medical technology businesses, and healthcare providers can each play a role in bringing solutions into established care pathways.
His international background is relevant to this work. Healthcare markets differ in their regulatory frameworks, purchasing processes, and approaches to digital adoption. Experience across North America, Europe, and China offers a broader perspective on these differences and the need to adapt commercial strategies to local conditions. Rather than treating expansion as a straightforward extension of an existing business, the task is to identify opportunities where a company's capabilities align with genuine market needs.
Balancing Innovation with Commercial Discipline
Digital health companies often face a difficult transition between developing a promising technology and establishing a sustainable business around it. Scientific progress is essential, but it must be supported by sound execution, strong partnerships, and a realistic route to market. Ukaj's role involves bringing these elements together as Newel Health works to expand its presence in digital medicine.
His experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments offers two complementary perspectives. Work at Novartis provided exposure to a large international healthcare organization, while his entrepreneurial background involved the demands of building and scaling science-based businesses. Together, these experiences are relevant to a company that needs to preserve its scientific focus while developing the commercial structure required for growth.
Under his leadership, Newel Health is seeking to make better use of its scientific and regulatory strengths. This includes developing partnerships that can extend the reach of its products and supporting the commercial processes needed to bring digital medical solutions to broader markets. The emphasis is on creating a business capable of turning its existing expertise into sustainable opportunities rather than pursuing growth for its own sake.
Developing Digital Medicine for Chronic Conditions
Newel Health is an Italian digital health company that develops software-based medical solutions combining artificial intelligence, behavioral science, clinical research, and real-world data. Its work focuses on areas including cardiometabolic disease, neuroscience, and chronic pain, where patients may need continued support outside traditional clinical appointments.
The company's portfolio includes Amicomed, a digital therapeutic for hypertension management, and Rohkea, a virtual reality-based intervention for chronic musculoskeletal pain. It is also developing Soturi, a digital health solution for Parkinson's disease that incorporates wearable sensors and digital biomarkers. These initiatives reflect an approach that uses technology to support condition management and complement existing healthcare practices.
Newel Health also works with pharmaceutical and medical technology companies seeking to develop and commercialize digital medical products. Its capabilities cover different stages of development, including product design, clinical validation, regulatory activities, and post-market support. Its proprietary H.Core platform provides a shared technological foundation intended to support the development of digital medical solutions.
Preparing for the Next Stage
For Ukaj, the opportunity ahead lies in bringing these capabilities together with a stronger commercial strategy. Newel Health's experience in medical software development and regulatory processes provides a foundation, but broader adoption depends on building the right partnerships and demonstrating value in real healthcare settings.
As digital medicine continues to develop, the companies that succeed will need to combine technical progress with clinical credibility and effective execution. Ukaj's priorities reflect this balance. By focusing on commercial discipline, strategic relationships, and market expansion, he is guiding Newel Health toward its next stage of growth while keeping its work in digital medical solutions at the center of the business.
1. Who is Ervin Ukaj?
Ervin Ukaj is the CEO of Newel Health. He brings international experience in digital health, clinical innovation and business growth, including previous senior roles at Novartis.
2. What does Newel Health do?
Newel Health is an Italian digital health company that develops software-based medical solutions using artificial intelligence, behavioural science, clinical research and real-world data.
3. What are Newel Health's main areas of focus?
The company focuses on cardiometabolic disease, neuroscience and chronic pain. Its solutions include digital therapeutics, virtual reality-based interventions and wearable sensor technologies.
4. What is Ervin Ukaj's growth strategy for Newel Health?
His strategy focuses on strengthening commercial capabilities, building strategic partnerships, expanding into international markets and turning scientific innovation into practical digital medical solutions.
“The real opportunity in digital health lies in turning scientific innovation into medical solutions that can reach patients and work within everyday healthcare.”
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