Varian and Ping An Healthcare Technology Forge Strategic Alliance to Deliver AI-Powered Digital Oncology Solutions for China

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) recently learned that Varian Medical Systems and Ping An Healthcare Technology Co., Ltd. have announced the signing of a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU). The two parties will share their respective technical expertise and resource advantages, leveraging artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data technologies to tailor high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective comprehensive digital solutions for cancer treatment to the Chinese population.

Currently, approximately 10,000 people in China are diagnosed with cancer each day, with new cases accounting for about one-quarter of the global total. Both the incidence and mortality rates of cancer in China exceed the world average, posing a significant challenge to the realization of the "Healthy China" strategy. In response, the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China reiterated the need to control major diseases, emphasizing the importance of "supporting privately run medical institutions and developing the health industry." Varian, a global leader in cancer treatment, and Ping An, a pioneer in China’s health sector, promptly responded to the government’s call and quickly reached a consensus on coreCooperation Objectives—Expanding access to cancer treatment in China, enabling patients to receive high-quality, efficient, and affordable care close to home.

Varian, a world-leading provider of radiotherapy systems and software, is transforming into a comprehensive cancer ecosystem company focused on serving patients throughout the entire cycle of cancer diagnosis and treatment, leveraging over 70 years of experience in oncology care and medical big data. As a premier radiation oncology company, Varian supplies radiotherapy systems and software to 7,400 cancer centers worldwide, delivering treatment services to up to 2.8 million patients annually. Varian is committed to expanding access to cancer care and saving more lives.

Varian has been rooted in China for over 30 years, consistently committed to providing Chinese patients with more comprehensive and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services. It has promoted and witnessed the development and widespread adoption of precision radiation therapy capabilities in China. In recent years, Varian has actively introduced precision radiosurgery technologies based on linear accelerators, as well as proton therapy technologies, into China, thereby improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients. In recognition of its contributions to China’s healthcare sector, Varian has been consecutively honored as an enterprise under the “Beijing Biopharmaceutical Industry Leapfrog Development Project (G20 Project).”

After nearly 30 years of development, Ping An has established a dual-engine growth model driven by “capital + technology,” focusing on the two major sectors of comprehensive financial assets and healthcare. Leveraging its local advantages and adhering to internationally standardized corporate governance, Ping An provides integrated financial and healthcare services to 430 million internet users and 153 million customers. To further enhance its healthcare ecosystem, Ping An recently established Ping An Medical Technology Co., Ltd. and the Ping An Medical Technology Research Institute. Positioned for medical technology R&D and product incubation, these entities will fully leverage Ping An’s vast accumulated healthcare data resources and empower the healthcare industry through artificial intelligence technologies.

Meanwhile, it will bring together top domestic and international researchers in artificial intelligence algorithms/models and cloud computing experts. By integrating resources within Ping An Group’s medical technology sector, it will conduct research on core AI technologies in medical tech and develop, promote, and apply technological innovations. Big Health is one of the two major strategies for Ping An Group’s future development and serves as a key engine for its transformation into a technology-driven company.

Both parties aim to establish a strategic partnership, leveraging their respective successful experiences and accumulated resources in their fields to provide innovative products and services for users and patients, thereby meeting the extensive demands of medical big data. The two sides will focus on enhancing digital intelligence across the entire cancer care continuum, covering prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, and encompassing comprehensive therapeutic modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, molecular medicine, and radiation therapy.

Kevin O’Reilly, President of Varian Medical Systems’ Oncology Division for the Asia-Pacific region, signed the memorandum of cooperation on behalf of Varian and stated, “We are delighted to partner with Ping An, a leader in China’s healthcare sector. As the first technology company to establish its presence in Silicon Valley, Varian has been at the forefront of technological advancements and innovation in radiation oncology throughout its 70-year history and remains the only healthcare company among the top ten technology firms in Silicon Valley. Through this collaboration, we aim to leverage technology to better serve cancer patients in China.”

Dr. Zhang Xiao, Varian’s Global Vice President and President of Greater China, also attended the signing ceremony, stating, “Varian provides treatment services to approximately 510,000 cancer patients in China each year. Remaining true to our original mission, we are moving forward by partnering with Ping An to leverage big data and artificial intelligence across the entire cancer care continuum. This collaboration aims to deliver leading and comprehensive cancer treatments to more Chinese cancer patients, with a greater emphasis on ensuring that treatment plans are convenient and accessible.”

Mao Biao, Director of the Strategic Development Center at Ping An Group, stated, “Ping An has long focused on developments in the field of medical health technology and has gradually established a strategic deployment for comprehensive healthcare to support the Healthy China initiative. This collaboration with Varian marks a significant milestone for Ping An Healthcare Technology, substantially advancing Ping An’s capabilities in radiation oncology and expanding the international influence of the Ping An Healthcare Technology brand. Moving forward, we also hope to leverage the Group’s integrated platform to deepen cooperation between both parties.”