Ruochu Yizhu Files for IPO: Pioneer in Breast Cancer Single-Disease Management Platform Serving Over 100,000 Patients and Partnering with 60+ Top-Tier Hospitals

The healthcare industry is indeed characterized by numerous specialties and deep vertical integration. VCBeat (WeChat:(VCBeat) Authors covering different fields sometimes feel that “interdisciplinary gaps are as vast as mountains”: those writing about medical devices may not understand genetics, while those covering pharmaceuticals may lack knowledge of healthcare informatics. In actual clinical practice, the workflows for each disease type vary significantly.

Platform-based internet healthcare companies can leverage their high-traffic advantage to connect patients and physicians, but they still lack sufficient depth in the management of individual disease types.Following the rapid expansion of large-scale healthcare platforms, niche, specialized healthcare enterprises are garnering increasing attention.。

Whole-Course Health Management for Single Diseasesthe concept, was introduced by Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center atFirst proposed in October 2015. The setting at that time was the Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, hosting a major event at the Shanghai World Expo Center., announced its full-course management model for breast healthOfficially launched.

When it comes to breast cancer, it has become the leading threat to women's health in China. Data shows that the number of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases in China each year accounts for a significant portion of the global total.12.2%, with the growth rate of new incidence being twice the global average. Fortunately, breast cancer patients can significantly improve their survival chances through appropriate health management.

The organizer of the aforementioned launch conference for the full-course management model of breast health is a company called Shanghai Ruochu Technology. As the pioneer in China specializing in single-disease health management for breast conditions, the company is collaborating with breast diagnosis and treatment departments at medical institutions of all levels across China to tailor mobile service platforms for them. 

VCBeat on Ruochu TechnologyFounder andCEOJiang QinConducted an interview，This founder fromAfter returning to China from studying in Canada,RegardingAlwaysYesPharmaceuticalspractitioners. She said that, in fact, Ruochu Technology had alreadyEstablished in 2014, the company initially founded an online community for cancer patients called “Rehabilitation Circle.” Through operating this platform, the team gained continuous insights into the needs and pain points of cancer patients. This experience increasingly made them realize that a patient-to-patient social platform could only address superficial issues, failing to penetrate the core of cancer treatment.

During this process, they discoveredThe key to truly helping patients and generating genuine commercial value lies in the informatization-guided support throughout the entire clinical process.。“Patients often feel confused during treatment, as hospital care systems and information are complex and intertwined, lacking a channel to help them make sense of it all.”

However, RuoChu Tech’s foray into developing a single-disease management system for breast cancer originated from the innovative reform of whole-process disease management at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center.

Traditionally, breast cancer prevention and control efforts have been fragmented among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, primary healthcare institutions, and general or specialized hospitals. Each entity operated independently with its own management platform, failing to form an integrated system. Professor Shao Zhimin from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center identified this issue years ago, proposing that breast cancer prevention and control constitute a highly specialized, systematic endeavor. As the largest breast cancer diagnosis and treatment center in China, it is both necessary and feasible to mobilize resources from all sectors of society to build a comprehensive management platform, thereby establishing a new model for full-course disease management.

In light of this opportunity, Ruochu Technology pivoted toward disease-specific information management and customized solutions for Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center“Ruo Chu Yi Zhu” Mobile Medical Information Platform has since delved deeply into the single-disease domain of breast diseases. Currently, this information platform has been promoted to Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, and others.ChinaBreast Departments of Over 60 Grade III, Class A HospitalsUse, for10+ million breast disease patientsProvide services.

According toJiang QinIntroduction: Ruochu Medical Assistant, after gaining an in-depth understanding of the needs of these departments and patients, identified and addressed several key pain points in the diagnosis and post-diagnosis management of breast tumors.

1. DiagnosisTherapeutic Management in (Surgical Management, Chemotherapy Management)

2. Post-Consultation Management （Endocrine Therapy Management, Follow-up Management）

The entire management system is divided into a patient-facing interface and a physician-facing interface, with the requirements of both sides well-aligned and mutually corresponding.

Breast cancer can be described as a chronic disease, with long-term treatment and management.“The entire process is clearly displayed on the Ruochu Medical Assistant app, allowing patients to know what they should do at each stage simply by opening the application. This eliminates the need for doctors to engage in repetitive communication with patients and avoids the extensive use of manual labor to handle tasks across various stages.”

Therefore, this information system has effectively helped breast specialty departments improve triage efficiency, freeing up breast specialists’ time from administrative tasks to better care for patients; patients have experienced improved treatment efficiency due to streamlined healthcare processes, leading to increased satisfaction. 

“The current team has gradually evolved from our work in the rehabilitation sector. Our members come from diverse backgrounds, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and big data and information technology.”Jiang QinSays that currently the entire team has20 professionals with both healthcare industry experience and a technical foundation.

To date, Ruochu Technology has secured nearly RMB 10 million inPre-Series A financing. They are actively seeking industry collaboration, exchanges, and fundraising opportunities.

After collaborating with several of the largest breast cancer centers in China, Ruochu Technology has become a leading breast cancer health management platform in the country.Jiang Qinstated that they have achieved certain results in the information-based management of single diseases for their department at this stage, but they will not stop there; the company's goals are also being constantly updated.

Next, Ruochu Technology plans to develop a single-disease clinical decision support system.“We began researching the artificial intelligence technologies required for clinical decision support last year, with the aim of achieving a breakthrough within this year.” The longer-term goal is to establish a comprehensive breast cancer service platform organized around individual medical departments. This platform will offer more specialized and in-depth services while expanding its reach, thereby facilitating patients in finding the most suitable physicians for their needs.

“If you ask what major problems we’ve encountered in the course of starting our business, I’d say none are greater than the imperative of treating diseases and saving lives. What we deal with are minor challenges, requiring continuous error correction and optimization,” said the founder, known for his concise and prudent speech. “Patients and doctors often tell us that the work we do is highly valuable.”

Sometimes,Simplification of certain processes has led to a significant acceleration in the race for life.。Ruochu TechForDepartment of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterCustomizationofSingle DiseaseManagementSystemWithin just six months of its launch, the platform facilitated rapid contact with hospitals and arranged inpatient treatment for five patients with recurrent and metastatic breast cancer.

“The treatment of breast cancer involves substantial expertise at every stage, with significant room for optimization in each step. Therefore, the more deeply we delve into this disease, the higher the barriers to entry and the greater our competitive advantage.”

All data related to this enterprise in the article were provided and confirmed by the interviewee.