Roche China Launches 'Digital Health Incubator 2.0': A Clinical Translation and Innovation Solution

China Finance and Economics News, November 5th: Today, at the 7th CIIE “Innovation with Roche, Quality Leads the Future” Roche Smart Healthcare Empowerment Practice Press Conference, Roche joined hands with partners to explore the innovative practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI), presenting the "China Solution." This provides new ideas and methods for the integrated innovation and development of China's smart healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, while promoting the high-quality development of China’s healthcare and health industry, leading global smart healthcare innovation practices.

At the event, Roche Pharmaceuticals China launched the "Digital Healthcare Incubation 2.0" clinical incubation and transformation innovation solution, continuously empowering local innovation, enabling digital innovation to truly take root in China, and ultimately contributing to the achievement of the "Healthy China" goal.

"With the development of the times, people's demand for medical care is changing. The medical industry will inevitably integrate more digital technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, making medical services truly intelligent and personalized," said Fan Jia, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, honorary president of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, and director of the Shanghai International Medical Science and Innovation Center. Currently, the construction of smart healthcare in China is booming, but there is still a certain gap from the public's pursuit of high-level medical care. "I hope to use the international platform of the CIIE to work together with all parties to promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence, digital technology, and the medical health field, accelerate the construction of smart healthcare, and benefit public health."

"The CIIE has always been a 'wind vane' for innovation. Under the guidance of national policies to develop new quality productive forces, China's healthcare sector is accelerating its transformation and upgrading towards digitization and intelligence," said Dr. Li Bin, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Roche Pharmaceuticals China. Roche has long been deeply engaged in the field of smart healthcare, possessing industry-leading rich experience. Meanwhile, after three decades of development and strategic layout in China, Roche is well-positioned to connect various resources and catalyze the accelerated application of scientific technologies into clinical products, ultimately benefiting every patient.

Currently, new quality productivity represented by smart healthcare has become an innovative driving force and a new path and method for advancing the Healthy China strategy. The "Healthy China Action - Cancer Prevention and Treatment Action Implementation Plan (2023–2030)," jointly formulated by the National Health Commission and 13 other departments, explicitly states, "Focusing on supporting key technological breakthroughs in cancer prevention and treatment, with 'precision, regeneration, and intelligence' as the main directions of attack, strengthen major source innovations and disruptive technological innovations in cancer prevention and treatment to lead to original breakthroughs in cancer prevention and treatment technologies."

Roche is relying on three key elements—large-scale and meaningful data, advanced analytical technologies, and valuable application scenarios—to drive innovation in clinical decision support and remote patient monitoring and management through a digital product portfolio, contributing to the advancement of China's oncology prevention and treatment initiatives. Currently, Roche has partnered with top research hospitals in China to create a globally leading smart healthcare innovation pipeline, facilitating the transformation of scientific research into practical applications.

The Digital Decision-Making Support Model for Liver Cancer, led by Professor Sun Huichuan, Deputy Director of the Liver Cancer Research Institute at Fudan University and Deputy Chief of the Liver Surgery Department at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, represents a significant milestone in collaboration with Roche. This model has now entered the clinical validation stage and is expected to advance the development of precision diagnosis and treatment for liver cancer in China through digital means, benefiting Chinese liver cancer patients as soon as possible. Professor Sun Huichuan stated: “China accounts for half of the global cases of liver cancer in terms of both incidence and mortality. Intelligent healthcare, represented by artificial intelligence, will contribute to precise diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer in China. By analyzing liver cancer characteristics to establish a visualized decision-making support model, digital evidence can be provided regarding the effectiveness of patient medication, thereby assisting doctors in making diagnostic and treatment decisions and increasing certainty during the treatment process. While bringing clinical benefits to patients, this will also help reduce medical costs. We are highly anticipating that this research outcome can be applied in clinical practice as soon as possible.”

Currently, Roche is focusing on a comprehensive upgrade in the field of smart healthcare in China, expanding innovative practices into broader areas to empower the rapid and sustainable development of China's healthcare industry with global experience. At the press conference, Roche announced the "Digital Healthcare Incubator 2.0," which builds on its ongoing support for local digital clinical practice projects by further upgrading to eliminate obstacles in the product development process and provide full-chain support from early R&D to later commercialization.

"Digital Healthcare Incubator 2.0" aims to build a bridge that connects the stages of clinical idea validation, product development, and registration for market entry, forming an integrated incubation and transformation platform for digital tools. Additionally, the project incorporates an innovative incubation empowerment system centered on a knowledge framework, including curriculum training, practical workshops, and full-journey personalized support, to promote talent development in hospitals during the AI era and accelerate the transformation of innovative achievements. In the future, the "incubator" will continue to focus on identifying and addressing key clinical needs, fostering a vibrant ecosystem in the field of smart healthcare through close collaboration with medical experts and technology pioneers.

Roche China President, Vicky Bian, stated: "The CIIE not only provides Roche with an excellent platform to showcase innovative achievements but also builds a bridge for us to connect with ecosystem partners, creating opportunities and sharing a common future. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Roche's establishment in China, and standing at this new starting point, we look forward to continuing to embrace openness and deepen cooperation through the CIIE. We will resonate with China’s healthcare industry and jointly write a brilliant chapter. In the future, we will continue to increase our investment in China, further cultivate the Chinese market, comprehensively strengthen the end-to-end complete pharmaceutical value chain, and upgrade localized production layout and investment, allowing more patients to benefit from Roche's innovative drugs."