Beam Therapeutics Secures $87M Series A Funding; Alibaba Health Reports RMB 2.443B Revenue in FY2018
Work | Death in the Sickroom
Author | Edvard Munch
Illustrated History of Medicine | Issue 20180520
“National Team” capital embodies the state’s will. By examining their investment portfolios, one can discern industry development trends and key priorities in industrial planning. VCBeat has compiled a list of “National Team” investors that are particularly active in the healthcare sector, along with the projects they have participated in, aiming to analyze the logic underlying their healthcare investment strategies.
An increasing number of companies are choosing to collaborate with universities, hospitals, or medical experts to jointly develop AI-assisted diagnostic and treatment systems for dermatological conditions. So, how many skin-related AI projects currently exist worldwide? How effective are they? What challenges do they face? And how do policies provide guidance? VCBeat has compiled an overview on these matters.
Policy support, demand-driven growth, strengthening the nursing workforce, and promoting the reform and development of both the nursing profession and the nursing industry are key components of implementing the Healthy China strategy. They also represent an objective requirement for establishing a health service system that covers the entire population and the full life cycle. Against the backdrop of comprehensive institutional reforms, how can the nursing industry achieve optimized development? How should the nursing value chain be restructured? These were the primary topics of concentrated discussion among representatives from various sectors.
How Can Prefecture-Level Hospitals Develop? Perhaps the Story of Taihe Hospital Is Worth Learning From. In 2008, Luo Jie became the president of Taihe Hospital; ten years later, Taihe Hospital emerged as a standout institution. With over 95% of its departments designated as provincial-level key specialties and the establishment of various medical consortium models, it has become a leading prefecture-level hospital.
This competition widely invites domestic startup projects in the health and medical sectors that feature technological innovation or business model innovation, as well as pan-data projects from the TMT sector. Technological innovation projects include, but are not limited to, those in the fields of internet, big data, artificial intelligence, data governance technology, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), genetic testing, and smart devices.
Among the myriad of aesthetic medicine options, consumer preferences vary; for instance, users of energy-based skin rejuvenation treatments generally outnumber those opting for surgical or injectable procedures. In recent years, the industry has witnessed subtle shifts in trends. What types of procedures are beauty seekers actually undergoing? VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) will outline the key trends in the medical aesthetics industry in 2018.
May 14,Zhang Feng, a new company co-founded by three "titans" of the CRISPR field: David Liu and J. Keith JoungBeam TherapeuticsOfficially launched. Beam isWorld's FirstAn innovative company leveraging single-base editing technology to develop precision gene therapies has secured $87 million in Series A financing, led by F-Prime Capital Partners and ARCH Venture Partners.
May 15,World Health OrganizationReleased the world’s first essential diagnostic list to guide the diagnosis of common diseases and several priority conditions, aiming to help improve diagnostic accuracy and enhance treatment outcomes.
May 15,Jiangzhong PharmaceuticalThe Company announced that its actual controller, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Jiangxi Province (Jiangxi SASAC), is currently engaged in discussions with China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Limited regarding the strategic restructuring of the Company’s controlling shareholder, Jiangxi Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. As a result, the Company’s indirect controlling shareholder may be changed to China Resources Pharmaceutical Group.
On the evening of May 16,Alibaba HealthReleased its financial results announcement for fiscal year 2018 (April 1, 2017–March 31, 2018), Alibaba Health achieved revenue of RMB 2.443 billion and gross profit of RMB 653 million for the year, representing substantial year-on-year increases of 414.2% and 248.7%, respectively. The company will further strengthen its strategic layout in medical AI.
May 16,Yifan PharmaceuticalThe announcement stated that it plans to provide cash capital injections or loans to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Yifan International Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., to fund a voluntary general offer to all shareholders of SciGen Ltd. (Saizhen Company). The proposed offer aims to acquire no less than 90% of the shares of the target company, with the potential to reach 100% ownership, thereby delisting the target company.
May 17,Regeneron(Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) and Sanofi announced that the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating Dupixent (dupilumab) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adolescents (aged 12–17 years) met its primary and secondary endpoints. It is worth noting that Dupixent isFirstAlsoUniqueA biologic agent demonstrating positive outcomes in this patient population.
May 18,WeDoctor CloudandYuheng PharmaceuticalSigned a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build a primary healthcare cloud, with its initial implementation in primary healthcare institutions in Heilongjiang Province. This follows the launch of China's national health and medical industry cloud,The First Business Cloud Platform for Primary Healthcare Institutions。
This week, in the medical field both domestically and internationally, there are a total of19Financing events.
Caifu Capital, Zhou Yiyang
In the healthcare industry, no license means no income; obtaining one can lead to explosive growth, but you must endure the early stages. (Source: Si Bai Wei)
Yuanhe Origin · Zhao Qun
In the United States, Series A investments in new drugs typically amount to tens of millions of US dollars, whereas in China, they are only tens of millions of RMB, reflecting a relatively cautious approach. This caution is particularly evident in two areas: first, early-stage projects targeting high-risk indications struggle to secure funding; second, regarding leading domestic companies, I believe it is better to have a bubble than none at all. Entrepreneurial teams, in particular, should be adept at leveraging market bubbles or investors’ cyclical trends. (Source: VCBeat)
Vulnerability in Drug-Resistant Melanoma Identified, Potentially Enabling Better Control of Cancer Cell Growth
Scientists from the Oncode Institute and the Netherlands Cancer Institute have recently identified a vulnerability in BRAF-mutant melanoma cells, rendering them susceptible to vorinostat, an already approved anti-tumor drug. Led by Dr. Rene Bernards, the research team has designed a sequential treatment strategy to evaluate the use of vorinostat in eligible melanoma patients, a study that holds promise for providing better strategies to control cancer. (Source: genengnews.com)
New Progress in Streptococcus pyogenes Research Effectively Halts Disease Progression
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have conducted a new study that offers fresh insights into the treatment of Streptococcus pyogenes and identifies several novel control strategies, with their findings recently published in the journal Cell. The researchers stated that they hope this work will help identify new therapeutic approaches for diseases associated with this pathogen. The study also proposes two distinct methods to curb the bacterium’s virulent behaviors, thereby preventing widespread infection and halting disease progression. (Source: genengnews.com)
Olfactory Biomarkers Accurately Predict Malaria Infection, Paving the Way for Novel Diagnostic Methods
Currently, an international research team is conducting new studies on malaria diagnosis to determine whether they can identify changes in human body odor associated with malaria infection, which could prove useful for diagnosing infected individuals. The findings of this new study were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The researchers aim to identify the most reliable and effective biomarkers to develop a practical diagnostic method. (Source: genengnews.com)
PwC: Analysis of Valuation Adjustment Mechanisms (VAM) in Investment and Financing Transactions within the Healthcare Services Industry
In recent years, valuation adjustment mechanisms (VAMs), also known as contingent consideration arrangements, have garnered increasing attention and widespread adoption in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions. This report examines common accounting issues associated with contingent consideration in M&A deals within the healthcare services industry. The aim is to help corporate decision-makers plan ahead and negotiate more favorable contingent consideration terms from an accounting perspective during M&A negotiations.
VCBeat: Report on the Competitiveness of Pharmaceutical E-commerce
By examining the development of pharmaceutical e-commerce in China and the United States, the characteristics of its developmental stages in China, the current state of the B2B and B2C pharmaceutical e-commerce markets, and case studies of corporate transformations, this report aims to demonstrate how companies can innovate their business models in the era of Pharmaceutical E-commerce 2.0, transitioning from mere drug sales providers to builders of an ecosystem for pharmaceutical distribution and a closed-loop healthcare services ecosystem.
KPMG: Outlook for the Medical Device Industry in 2030
The report presents an ostensibly optimistic outlook for the development prospects of medical device companies; however, the unsustainability of healthcare costs, coupled with the entry of new competitive forces, suggests that the future landscape of the industry is likely to undergo significant changes. If current manufacturers fail to establish their position within the evolving value chain, they will face a dilemma and the risk of commoditization. Maintaining a leading edge requires delivering value beyond the device itself by solving healthcare problems—rather than merely making a contribution.
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