VB Weekly Report 0104: Happy New Year and Industry Highlights
Events & Perspectives
What is meant to be a blessing will not turn into a curse; what is destined as a curse cannot be avoided. Theranos, which was once mired in controversy in 2015 amid allegations of fraudulent practices.
However, according to a report by the foreign media outlet Business Insider,Theranos Recently Secured $633 Million in New Funding Round, which should be considered a very encouraging New Year’s gift for Theranos, still mired in controversy.
Although the FDA and CMS investigations are far from over, and 2016 is destined to be a turbulent year for Theranos, the editor sincerely hopes that this workaholic—who is no longer young yet still dives headfirst into blood testing—will succeed in realizing his dream of developing a 240-marker panel.
As the new year begins, although there have been fewer reported activities within the industry recently, the audible developments remain quite significant.
For example,The long-rumored Samsung Bio-Processor chip has finally made its debut. It is reported that this processor is specifically designed for health-oriented wearable devices, including smart bands and smartwatches, to accelerate the development of such products and meet users’ needs for daily monitoring of their personal health status.
Samsung also revealed that the bio-processor has entered mass production, with related wearable health devices scheduled to hit the market in the first half of 2016.
Additionally, new details about the latest product have been revealed.Hisense Medical is strategically positioning itself in the field of precision medicine, launching two products: the Hisense Computer-Assisted Surgery System and the Hisense Surgical Intelligent Display System, a first-of-its-kind innovation in China., using “precision” as the breakthrough point to enter the medical electronics industry, helping doctors provide more precise, personalized treatment plans for patients.
In terms of acquisitions,Following the acquisition of Healthe Care, Australia’s third-largest private hospital group, Luye Medical has once again taken a controlling stake in South Korea’s JC Health Co., Ltd.。
In fact, this does not yet reflect the full extent of Luye Medical’s aggressive expansion strategy; in 2015 alone, it carried out two mergers and acquisitions. In June, Luye Medical became the largest shareholder of AsiaMedic, a Singapore-based provider of medical check-up and diagnostic services. In August, Luye Group, the parent company of Luye Medical, acquired Vela Diagnostics, a Singaporean genetic testing company, thereby entering the fields of genetic technology and precision medicine.
This series of mergers and acquisitions signals its charge into the global market.
Additionally, as the year draws to a close, various institutions have begun their reviews of 2015 and forecasts for 2016 trends:
Global mHealth App Developers Economic Annual ConferenceSummary: In 2015, mobile health apps suffered from excessive commercial hype. It is pointed out that smartphones will become the preferred mobile medical devices over the next five years, with 85% of mobile health practitioners adopting smartphones as their primary tool.. Especially in developing countries, smartphone penetration is very high.
Survey data indicates that Android and iOS remain the two dominant application development platforms for mobile health. Furthermore, smartwatches are poised to replace tablets as the second most prevalent device for mobile health apps. Over the next five years, tablets and fitness bands will also continue to hold significant market positions within the mobile health device landscape.
In the future, providing users with automated data entry services through mobile health apps will be the mainstream trend.
PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI) has forecasted the ten most impactful forces in the healthcare industry in 2016: 1. M&A boom; 2. Drug pricing; 3. Mobile health; 4. Cybersecurity; 5. Healthcare consumerism; 6. Mental health; 7. Community care; 8. High-tech databases driving healthcare development; 9. Biosimilars; 10. Healthcare service costs.
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Healthcare Reform
★ Wuhan’s First Batch of 18 Public Hospitals Launches Healthcare Reform, Abolishing Drug Markups
Recently, Wuhan issued the "Work Plan for the Pilot Comprehensive Reform of Public Hospitals in Wuhan." According to the plan, by the end of 2017, all 36 municipal and district-level public hospitals in the city will completely eliminate drug markups and implement zero-markup drug sales. Wuhan will also encourage and support public hospitals affiliated with central ministries, provincial authorities, and state-owned enterprises and institutions to participate in this reform.
Meanwhile, Wuhan will also reduce the fees for certain large-scale medical equipment examinations, while prices for services that reflect the technical expertise of medical personnel—such as consultations, nursing care, and surgeries—may be increased. According to estimates by the Wuhan Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission, patients’ overall medical expenses are expected to decline slightly following this round of reforms.
★ National Health and Family Planning Commission Releases “Guiding Opinions on the Standardized Construction and Regulated Management of Maternal and Child Health Service Institutions”
On December 28, the National Health and Family Planning Commission issued the “Guiding Opinions of the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Standardized Construction and Regulated Management of Maternal and Child Health Service Institutions” and the “Guidelines for the Setup of Business Departments in Maternal and Child Health Service Institutions at All Levels.”
The “Guiding Opinions” consist of five parts: first, adhering to guiding principles; second, fulfilling functional tasks; third, optimizing service models; fourth, strengthening operational support; and fifth, enhancing institutional frameworks.
★ The generic name of a medical device shall not contain the word "best"
The National Medical Products Administration recently issued the "Rules for Naming General Names of Medical Devices," stipulating that general names for medical devices must not include absolute terms such as "best" or "fast-acting." The Rules will take effect on April 1 next year.
Data
▼ Fierce Competition in the Pharmaceutical E-commerce Sector: Market Share to Reach RMB 65.7 Billion in 2018
Recently, Analysys Intelligence released a special research report on the pharmaceutical B2C market in 2015. The report indicates that the pharmaceutical B2C market will continue to grow, with its market share reaching RMB 65.7 billion by 2018. Meanwhile, from a macro perspective, the state will gradually relax regulations concerning “pharmaceutical e-commerce” across policy, economic, social, and technological dimensions. It can thus be predicted that the “pharmaceutical e-commerce” market will truly usher in a spring of rapid growth.
New Technologies
▼University Students Develop “Eye-on-a-Chip” with 3D-Printed Eyelids
Recently, graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science designed an “eye-on-a-chip.”
The so-called “eye-on-a-chip” refers to researchers using chip technology to simulate the functions of the human eye. This small plastic chip contains multiple microfluidic channels, which are carefully designed to allow corneal cells to grow as they would in the human body. Additionally, students have equipped it with a click-driven 3D-printed eyelid that enables blinking functionality similar to that of a human eye.
▼Scientists Develop Powerful Interactive Tool to Deeply Mine Cancer Genomic Data
Recently, researchers from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have developed a novel web application and data platform that provides powerful interactive tools for scientists worldwide to help them understand the various mutations driving pediatric cancers. The related study was published in Nature Genetics.
This specialized tool, named ProteinPaint, helps effectively reveal mutations that alter protein-coding instructions and drive pediatric cancers. It provides critical information complementary to existing tools, such as distinguishing whether mutations are present at initial diagnosis or upon relapse, and determining whether they occur in all cells or are confined to the cancer cells.
The novel interactive visualization tool, ProteinPaint, enables scientists to observe and analyze all mutations occurring in a single gene and its encoded protein, including mutation types, frequencies across cancer subtypes, and locations within protein domains. This information may help elucidate the mechanisms underlying cancer initiation, progression, and recurrence.
▼Swallowable Balloon Capsule Elipse
Developed by Allurion Technologies of Massachusetts, this balloon can be swallowed in capsule form. Once it reaches the stomach, it inflates to fill the gastric space, inducing a sensation of fullness and helping to suppress appetite. After several months, it self-destructs and is naturally expelled from the body.
It is also hailed as a “safe and effective weight-loss tool,” helping overweight and obese individuals regain their health. The balloon remains in the stomach for several months before being completely expelled from the body.
It is reported that Elipse is not the first swallowable gastric balloon; last year, a swallowable gastric balloon called Obalon was launched in the UK. However, Obalon requires surgical removal after treatment, whereas Elipse does not require any form of surgical assistance.
It has been approved for use in the UK and parts of Europe.
▼ Non-invasive Early Cancer Diagnosis System Delivers Results Within One Hour
Recently, AWSensors collaborated with the European LIQBIOPSENS consortium to develop a novel liquid biopsy technology for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. This system facilitates rapid and straightforward cancer diagnosis and monitoring, reducing costs by two-thirds compared to current diagnostic technologies.
By detecting DNA released from tumor tissues and cancer-associated mutations, this novel technology can reliably diagnose the presence and progression of cancer while avoiding false-positive results. Currently, AWSensors has begun leveraging crystals to manufacture sensors that operate with high efficiency and better detect molecular differences in various liquid biopsy samples and materials.
Capital
