LenoMed Founder Huang Xiaomin: Empowering Medical Devices with Technology to Build an Integrated Smart Solution for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care

Amid the booming development of a wave of new technologies such as the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence, and 5G, every industry has seen its share of pioneers attempting to empower traditional sectors with technology.

According to Huang Xiaomin, founder of Kailian Medical, the “wall-breaking” entry of technology will create more possibilities and a closed-loop ecosystem for the traditional healthcare industry.

Once a physician, an employee of healthcare giants, an overseas student, and an IT expert—Huang Xiaomin bears many labels, but “daring to try” is the most striking one.

In 2014, he single-handedly founded Kailian Medical Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., focusing on the research, development, and production of micro-dose drug infusion devices. 2014 was known as the “first year of Internet healthcare,” with capital paying close attention to this “new business,” butHuang Xiaomin firmly believes that only the “Internet Plus” model based on medical hardware devices offers opportunities for sustainable development.

In just a few short years since its establishment, Kailian Medical has achieved a series of remarkable breakthroughs in the fields of chronic diseases, diabetes, and rare diseases. Its independently developed products, including pituitary hormone pumps, insulin pumps, intelligent drug management systems, and chronic disease management platforms, are all industry-leading.

Leveraging its strong innovation capabilities, Kailian Medical secured RMB 50 million in Series B financing in 2018. “We aim to integrate internet and IT concepts to meet the clinical needs for disease treatment and management, providing patients with comprehensive data management throughout the entire treatment cycle,” said Huang Xiaomin.

From an internist to a product marketing professional in the diabetes field at industry giants such as Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic. At the inception of Kailian Medical, Huang Xiaomin set his sights on the diabetes sector, an area he knew best and which boasted a market size worth hundreds of billions.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia. It is considered a cardiovascular disease risk equivalent and is closely associated with other metabolic conditions.

Huang Xiaomin explained that diabetes is a classic case of “honeyed words and a sword in the belly”; this “soft knife” can cause damage to multiple organs in the human body, leading to complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputation, heart disease, and stroke, posing a serious threat to patients with diabetes.

Data indicate that in 2019, an estimated 116 million adults in China had diabetes, and these patients also face the risk of developing life-threatening complications. Among the estimated 116 million individuals, more than 65 million remain undiagnosed, placing them at extremely high risk.

For patients with diabetes, good blood glucose control can delay and prevent the occurrence of complications. Insulin is crucial for blood glucose control in diabetic patients and is currently the most effective method for lowering blood sugar.

On December 13, 2019, the new-generation insulin pump independently developed by Kailian Medical received a registration certificate from the National Medical Products Administration.Huang Xiaomin introduced that the new-generation insulin pump, designed with a focus on patient needs and adhering to the principles of safety, simplicity, style, and cost-effectiveness, facilitates precise insulin infusion therapy for diabetic patients, thereby enabling effective blood glucose control.

The new generation of insulin pumps features a user-centric design, with an LED color screen interface that enhances the user experience. The capacitive touch keys are safe and stylish. Operation is simple and intelligent, allowing for one-touch bolus delivery, automatic basal rate allocation, and comprehensive 24-hour protection.

(Figure caption: Kailian Medical's new-generation insulin pump)

Huang Xiaomin pointed out that the clinical trials for the new generation of insulin pumps were led by the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital as the primary research institution, under the direction of Dr. Mu Yiming, Director of the Department of Endocrinology. At the protocol discussion meeting for this clinical project, Dr. Mu Yiming stated to the principal investigators from five clinical centers in Beijing: "This is the first time our Department of Endocrinology at the PLA General Hospital has accepted a clinical trial for domestic medical devices. Our purpose is to express our support for innovation in domestically produced medical equipment, as we believe that over the next decade, high-tech Chinese-made medical devices will see significant development."

After two years of clinical validation across multiple clinical centers, it has been confirmed that the insulin pump developed by Kailian Medical is equivalent to imported insulin pumps in terms of safety and efficacy, making it a viable import substitute.

“We believe that through continuous innovation and R&D, diabetes management can become simple,” said Huang Xiaomin.

Advocating for the deep integration of technology and products, Huang Xiaomin led his team to develop a series of high-quality products alongside the launch of their insulin pump.Including: InnoPump Hormone Pump, Next-Generation Insulin Pump, Xtratop Smart Medicine Box, InnoPen Electric Injection Pen, and Kailian Cloud Management Platform.

InnoPump Hormone Pump is a new generation of pituitary hormone pump independently developed by Kailian Medical. This product is an AI-controlled micro-infusion device that simulates the physiological pulsatile secretion pattern of the hypothalamus through pulsed subcutaneous injection of GnRH analogs, thereby effectively stimulating the pituitary gland to secrete gonadotropins. This promotes gonadal development, hormone secretion, and gametogenesis, helping patients achieve fertility.

(Figure caption: InnoPump hormone pump)

This product is effective in treating hypothalamic-pituitary disorders such as Kallmann syndrome, a rare disease, and was approved for marketing by the NMPA in September 2019.

“The Kailian pituitary hormone pump is easy to operate, featuring simplified, personalized, and intelligent functionalities. It has already established collaborations with many renowned hospitals, such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Shandong Provincial Hospital, and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. Many patients with Kallmann syndrome have reported favorable outcomes and significant symptom improvement after using the device,” introduced Huang Xiaomin.

A patient in Beijing did not begin hormone pump therapy until the age of 36. In a letter to Huang Xiaomin, he wrote: “After two months, fine vellus hair began to appear on my lips, my throat started to feel slightly different (the prelude to voice deepening), and prostatic fluid began to be secreted—all of these milestones were delayed by a full twenty years. What remains etched in my heart is the dedication poured into that small device (the hormone pump) by healthcare professionals and engineers alike: their technical expertise, their professional ideals, and the warmth they extend in helping patients.”

The successful development of the hormone pump represents a combination of Kailian Medical’s dedication to rare disease treatment and its technological innovation.

With the dual “halo” of clinical expertise and IT technology, Kailian Medical, under the leadership of Huang Xiaomin, has developed products that not only closely address clinical pain points but also exude a strong sense of “technological sophistication.”

The infusion system compatible with the pump consists of a drug reservoir and an infusion tubing set. Featuring a comfortable, safe, and user-centered design, this product offers various tubing lengths to provide patients with flexible options. The tubing is resistant to occlusion and kinking, ensuring greater peace of mind for users. The steel needle is inserted vertically, providing a virtually painless experience. This product received NMPA approval for market launch in December 2019.

(Figure caption:Infusion System Products）

Xtratop Smart Pillbox is a multifunctional smart medication management device. It connects to cloud servers via Wi-Fi, reminding patients to take the correct dosage on time. Additionally, through its companion app, medication reminders can be shared with family members and caregivers, ensuring continuous care and support.

(Figure caption: Xtratop Smart Medicine Box)

“This is a product designed for precise medication management in patients with chronic diseases. Patients with chronic conditions often need to take multiple medications daily, such as hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering drugs. However, due to the variety of medications and differing administration times, they may forget doses or take them incorrectly. This smart pillbox effectively addresses these issues. The product is also highly suitable for the elderly,” said Huang Xiaomin.

Based on the above major physical products, Kailian Medical has also developed a cloud management platform.

Kailian Cloud Management Platform is an intelligent platform that integrates the Pituitary Hormone Pump APP, Xtratop Smart Medicine Box APP, and Insulin Pump APP. By connecting application records from hardware devices, it enables diversified data management, facilitating integrated connected care among patients, family members, and healthcare providers. This system effectively monitors the daily treatment of patients with chronic diseases and provides data reference for their treatment plans.

“The Kailian Cloud Management Platform is now operational, having received positive feedback from many users and attracting significant interest from experts for collaboration. We anticipate developing additional disease management models in the future,” said Huang Xiaomin.

Five Core Products: Comprehensive Solutions from Diagnosis and Treatment to Care, Bringing Hope to Patients with Chronic Diseases, Diabetes, and Rare Diseases.

“In the next phase, we will accelerate the expansion of our product portfolio. For instance, building on our pituitary hormone pump products, we will develop solutions tailored to patients with infertility,” said Huang Xiaomin.He stated that Kailian Medical will continue to develop more micro-dose drug infusion technologies, while also deepening its commitment to the fields of chronic and rare diseases, bringing patients more practical and affordable medical products. “We cannot change the disease, but we can change patients’ lives.”