Shanghai Shuyao Intelligence Expands Gaming Applications to Develop Universal Digital Therapeutics for Brain Disorders

Opportunities often lie at the edges of cross-disciplinary boundaries.

Many domestic game companies have begun to gradually explore the “Game+” model, leveraging its diverse value to widely empower products and services across fields such as technology, culture, education, public welfare, and even healthcare. However, achieving true cross-industry integration is by no means an easy task.

As a member of the Century Huatong ecosystem, Shanghai Shuyao Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “SDODT”) has ventured into the medical field to develop digital therapeutics for neurological disorders. This endeavor represents a process of “destruction before construction,” wherein existing boundaries are first broken down to enable resource integration on a broader scale, with strategic emphasis placed on areas of differentiation.

In early 2020, the SDODT team began exploring the field of digital therapeutics.

Li Wenyu, CEO of SDODT, stated, “We have always hoped to expand into more sectors, particularly the medical field. We often say internally: if games can bring joy, can they also alleviate suffering? This is highly meaningful. Although games have a certain impact on the mental and psychological domains, there were previously no cases integrating them with healthcare. Akili’s products made us realize that digital therapeutics is a suitable entry point.”

Li Wenyu, CEO of SDODT. Photo provided by the company.

In June 2020, EndeavorRx (AKL-T01), a digital therapeutic product from Akili Interactive Labs, received FDA approval. It is the first digital therapeutic designed to improve symptoms associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the first video game-based digital therapeutic to gain FDA approval.

The approval of Akili directly accelerated the progress of SDODT’s team in developing its ADHD digital therapeutics project. In August 2020, Shengqu Games, a subsidiary of Century Huatong, jointly established the “Zhejiang University Legend Innovation Research Center” with Zhejiang University, focusing on frontier areas of brain science such as digital pharmaceuticals, digital organs, human-machine integrated intelligence in gaming, and dream research.

Leveraging this research center, SDODT’s digital therapeutic product for treating pediatric ADHD, delivered via online games and titled “Attention Enhancement Training Software System,” has already conducted three clinical trials within less than a year.

When asked why she chose to focus on the ADHD field, Li Wenyu explained, “First, there are well-established and mature treatment protocols for ADHD. Although pharmacotherapy constitutes a major component of care, its significant side effects and poor adherence have led parents to prefer non-pharmacological interventions. Furthermore, China’s gaming technology sector is significantly more advanced than that of other countries.”

However, hurdles are inevitable in cross-disciplinary innovation. For SDODT, the greatest challenge lies not in medicine itself, but in reshaping the team’s mindset.

Many team members bring extensive experience in game development, but venturing into the healthcare sector means that most of their previous data models must be rebuilt from scratch to identify the functional models best suited for medical applications. Consequently, product design presents a significant hurdle for the team; it requires substantial simplification of content and continuous reinforcement of the significance and value of this cross-industry move into healthcare.

Having overcome this hurdle, SDODT began to fully leverage its strengths. At the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, SDODT developers spent nearly six months interacting with more than 300 children with ADHD, collecting cartoon designs, patterns, and colors that are psychologically appealing to children, and developing rhythm-based AI algorithms to create a relaxing, enjoyable, and immersive digital therapeutic environment tailored to their preferences.

“Our core strengths lie in our proficiency with game engines and our deep understanding of gaming mechanics. We have mastered the most advanced technologies available on the internet. This marks a distinct starting point for our team compared to other research groups. In terms of product design and continuous operations, we can deliver more refined and comprehensive solutions,” said Li Wenyu.

In China, the overall prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents is as high as 6%, with more than 23 million affected individuals. Traditional pharmacological treatments face two major challenges: first, most medications are central nervous system stimulants or inhibitors, which carry certain side effects and thus have low acceptance among parents; second, although these drugs act rapidly, patient adherence is poor. For many conditions, medication is typically required for only one to two weeks, whereas ADHD treatment often necessitates continuous administration for more than six months, making long-term compliance difficult for children.

Children are naturally inclined toward interaction, particularly those with ADHD. For these children, a guiding approach is more effective than suppression; however, manual interventions often suffer from low efficiency. Therefore, game-based approaches supported by evidence-based practices serve as an ideal alternative. SDODT leverages action-oriented games as a medium, utilizing its unique digital interactive framework to enhance children’s attention, memory, and other cognitive functions. By transcending temporal and spatial constraints, this approach boosts patient engagement and adherence, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes.

  SDODT's ADHD Digital Therapeutic Product — "Attention Enhancement Training Software System"

Specifically, the intervention cycle for SDODT’s ADHD digital therapeutic product, “Attention Enhancement Training Software System,” is one month. Users are required to log in five days a week and complete 25-minute level-based training sessions per visit as part of the treatment.Throughout the intervention, the system performs real-time backend monitoring and tracking of the user’s training status, adjusting the intervention protocol based on training progress and intensity to maximize therapeutic efficacy while preventing the risk of addiction.

Furthermore, the “Attention Enhancement Training Software System” may achieve real-time integration with various brain-computer interfaces in the future, enabling millisecond-level synchronization of treatment processes and EEG signal acquisition. By adopting a closed-loop training approach that integrates assessment with training, the system can accurately assess patient conditions and provide timely, effective feedback throughout the training process.

According to the company, SDODT is currently conducting phased clinical trials at the National Clinical Research Center for Children’s Health and Diseases and the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. After completing one course of treatment, pediatric patients showed improvements across various clinical indicators. SDODT is now actively pursuing the registration and application process for its digital therapeutics with the relevant national authorities.

However, in Li Wenyu’s view, regulatory approval is merely the beginning. “It is akin to launching a video game, followed by extensive operations, collection of user feedback, and continuous iteration. Unlike pharmaceutical development, digital therapeutics do not front-load all validation efforts, nor are they bound by the ‘Eroom’s Law’ (or the traditional ‘double-ten rule’). In addition to clinical validation, digital therapeutics require ongoing improvement and refinement based on substantial real-world evidence.”

It is understood that SDODT will focus its efforts this year on developing digital therapeutics for ADHD. In the future, the company will continue to leverage the Legend Innovation Center to research and develop digital therapeutic products targeting other mental disorders. “With the continuous advancement of medical technology, many human body components—such as the heart, kidneys, joints, and teeth—can be replaced, but the brain remains irreplaceable. Promoting brain health is a critically important endeavor. We will remain deeply committed to the field of brain science, unlocking new possibilities for healthier lives for more people,” said Li Wenyu.