Senmei Medical and West China Hospital of Sichuan University Announce Collaboration on Digital Therapeutics for Chronic Kidney Disease

Recently, Senmei Medical signed an official cooperation agreement with West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The two parties will jointly conduct medical research and product translation for the "Digital Therapeutics for Sodium Restriction in Chronic Kidney Disease."

This project is the first digital therapeutic product aimed at reducing the risk of high sodium intake in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Based on evidence-based medicine, this product is designed for independent home use by patients. For CKD patients at risk of high sodium intake, lifestyle interventions through digital therapeutics are combined with standard clinical care to improve or reduce their risk.

Two Main Pillars of Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment: Continuous Clinical Care and Patient Self-ManagementThe two main pillars of chronic kidney disease (CKD) treatment are continuous clinical care and patient self-management. Currently, the predominant model prioritizes clinical treatment, supplemented by follow-up visits to track disease progression. However, two major challenges exist within follow-up management: first, the conflict between the need for personalized treatment and the scarcity of medical resources; second, the specialized medical knowledge required for lifestyle interventions in CKD, which makes home-based self-management difficult for patients and results in low adherence.Digital therapeutics can effectively address these two contradictions. By aligning with treatment goals and individualized needs, software acts as a virtual coach to guide and monitor patients through specific training regimens. Furthermore, it incorporates psychological principles and techniques to enhance patient engagement and willingness to participate. This type of innovative and practical technology represents progress in proactive patient intervention. We believe that future chronic disease management should increasingly integrate such technologies, providing new perspectives and approaches for CKD management.

There are approximately 125 million patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in China. The high prevalence of CKD is closely linked to unhealthy lifestyles adopted in recent years, such as diets rich in purines, salt, sugar, and fats, coupled with insufficient physical activity. Lifestyle interventions are particularly urgent for individuals already diagnosed with CKD. In recent years, improvements in public health awareness, along with the widespread adoption of technological products including smartphones, have laid a solid foundation for the application of digital therapeutics. I hope that digital therapeutic products will become valuable assistants for clinicians in implementing lifestyle interventions for patients in the future!

Senmei Medical has collaborated with the Department of Nephrology at West China Hospital for many years in the field of chronic disease management. The two parties have established a seamless partnership, sharing common values and scientific principles. The development of this sodium-control digital therapeutic product represents an innovation in the digital health sector, underpinned by the robust academic support of West China Hospital. Digital health has undergone a prolonged evolution, progressing from early online medical consultation platforms to knowledge-base tools for physicians, and further to doctor-patient communication platforms that include internet hospitals and chronic disease management systems. Technologically, it has advanced from web-based technologies to client-side applications, encompassing embedded development and artificial intelligence. Building on these accumulations, we have developed evidence-based digital therapeutic products designed for patients. With strong support from clinical experts, we aim to continue innovating and developing more digital health solutions that benefit patients, improving their disease control and quality of life.