YiJiaYi: Pioneering Early-Stage Cancer Screening to Build a Sustainable Ecosystem in Oncology Prevention

Beijing PureWell Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “PureWell”) was established in November 2015. The company’s flagship project is “Yijiayi,” a mobile health platform dedicated to cancer prevention and control. Yijiayi was officially launched in January 2016. Its current core features encompass five major modules: health information, self-health assessment, preventive screening, personal health records, and community forums. By leveraging gene sequencing technology, Yijiayi aims to help individuals at risk of cancer promptly understand their likelihood of developing the disease, thereby enabling lifestyle adjustments or early interventions to achieve the goal of “preventive treatment.”The Growing Cancer Population: Ultra-Early Screening and Prevention Become Key to Improving Patient Survival RatesSince 1997, the number of cancer patients in China has grown rapidly, making cancer the leading cause of death among Chinese people. Currently, there are 3.12 million new cancer cases and 2.2 million cancer-related deaths annually. While the likelihood of curing mid-to-late stage cancer is low, the cure rate for early-stage cancer can exceed 65%, and the survival rate for ultra-early detection exceeds 90%. This demonstrates that early prevention and treatment are key to improving patient survival rates. For medical institutions, treatment is the primary focus, while health examination centers lack the specialized technology required for early cancer screening. Furthermore, current products in this sector are mainly concentrated on doctor-patient platforms and physician tools, with only a few platforms offering data services and health consultations. From the perspective of the entire industry ecosystem, oncology applications remain focused on the mid-to-downstream segments, primarily centered on treatment. The field of cancer prevention and control remains relatively underserved. Purivier is addressing this gap by utilizing ctDNA-based ultra-early tumor risk screening technology to help potential cancer patients detect the disease early, enabling early intervention to restore mutated genes to normal status and prevent further progression into cancer.Yijiayi builds its foundation on a network of cooperative primary care medical institutions and establishes in-depth partnerships with technology providers.Currently, the ctDNA-based ultra-early tumor risk screening technology adopted by the Yijiayi project is available only at a few institutions in China, and PureWell has established a deep collaborative partnership with the technology provider. ctDNA refers to circulating DNA released by tumor cells. It is a newly identified tumor biomarker in recent years, characterized by broad application prospects, high sensitivity, and high specificity, making it suitable for screening various types of cancer. The ctDNA ultra-early tumor risk screening technology can detect circulating tumor DNA through blood tests, identifying traces of tumors 3–5 years in advance. Compared with traditional imaging examinations, ctDNA technology enables earlier detection of precancerous lesions.Although not many companies have entered this field to date, there are still some competitors offering similar services. Regarding the competitive advantages of the Yijiayi project, Lu Wei, co-founder of the company, stated that Yijiayi is built upon core ctDNA testing technologies and a network of grassroots cooperative medical institutions, whereas most other companies in the same category are purely internet-based and rely on technologies provided by partner testing laboratories.The team is committed to building a healthy ecosystem in the Yijia Medical model,Next PhaseCompanyWill continueInOncology Prevention and ControlMeticulous CultivationYijia Yi targets individuals at high risk of developing cancer or those with a family history of hereditary cancer. The company is committed to building a comprehensive product ecosystem centered on professional and precise preventive screening, while also incorporating features such as science-based health information and self-health assessments. Through access to health information, users can establish scientific concepts of disease prevention and enhance their ability to manage their own health. Health records serve as a large medical database. The “Community” feature is designed to introduce a social component, allowing users to discuss and exchange experiences regarding their conditions. Lu Wei stated, “The establishment of the Community highlights the significant role of psychology and sociology in mobile healthcare; psychological activities and social attributes must be reintegrated into considerations for tumor prevention and control.” In its early stages, the Yijia Yi project focuses primarily on early cancer screening services, with plans to gradually expand into broader areas of cancer prevention and treatment.Discussing the original motivation behind the startup, Lu Wei said, “More than two thousand years ago, The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon taught us that ‘the superior physician treats disease before it arises, the average physician treats impending disease, and the inferior physician treats established disease.’ This is especially critical for major diseases like cancer, where early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment are truly vital.” The company team aims to leverage modern technological means to help users genuinely achieve the goal of “preventing disease before it occurs.”In the next phase, PureWill continue to deepen its expertise in the field of tumor prevention and control, focusing on the iterative updates of Yijia Yi’s early cancer detection products. It will also expand its offline service system to include online consultations with physicians, pharmacists, and nurses, as well as overseas medical care and commercial insurance services, thereby further improving its prevention and treatment service platform. The team’s ultimate goal is to create a healthy ecosystem akin to “Yijia Yi” within the realm of tumor prevention and control.