Brazilian Startup Unveils One-Hour Leukemia Diagnostic Device, Files for IPO
Events & Perspectives
Last week, the Weekly Report Editor was in a terrible state—feeling heavy-hearted, deeply distressed, and utterly powerless.
I believe everyone is aware of the incident. As of the completion of this article, the Tianjin Binhai New Area explosion has claimed more than 100 lives. Since the accident, various voices and viewpoints have emerged, but regardless of your perspective, please remain true to your original intentions.
Pray for Tianjin.
Let’s return to the digital health sector and recap the major developments from last week.
First is Dianping.
After Yelp, the “American Dianping,” resolved to help users find hospitals with the best reputations, China’s real-life Dianping has refused to lag behind and joined the fray, though it focuses on pharmaceuticals.
Last week, Dianping announced a partnership with Dingdang Kuaiyao, making over 10,000 types of medications from nearly 500 Dingdang Kuaiyao pharmacies across China fully available on the Dianping platform. According to VCBeat, Dingdang Kuaiyao will be officially integrated into Dianping by the end of August. At that time, users will be able to purchase medications by clicking on the “Medications” option within the “Home Delivery” section of the Dianping app.
According to the official website of Dianping, as of the second quarter of 2015, Dianping had over 200 million monthly active users and more than 20 billion comprehensive monthly page views (web and mobile), with mobile page views accounting for over 85%. The cumulative number of unique users exceeded 200 million.
How should I put it? Dingdang Kuaiyao must be smiling in its sleep.
Next are the highly anticipated tech giantsGoogle，Alphabet Restructures, Determined to Deeply Penetrate the Healthcare Sector.
Following the restructuring, Alphabet’s independently operated subsidiaries—Google X, Calico, and Google Ventures—will all be involved in the healthcare sector.
It is well known that Google has long been strategically positioned in the healthcare sector. In addition to establishing dedicated healthcare initiatives such as Life Sciences and Calico Labs, both Google Ventures and Google X have also ventured into the medical industry. In Larry Page’s open letter, he specifically highlighted Life Sciences and Calico Labs, underscoring that its ambition to enter the healthcare market is widely recognized.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that its life sciences division is planning to develop small point-of-care blood glucose monitoring sensors.
According to foreign media reports, Google’s life sciences division (now an independent subsidiary under Alphabet) is collaborating with DexCom to develop a series of initiatives aimed at assisting patients with diabetes. Last week, new details emerged: the partnership will facilitate the development of a compact, cloud-connected sensor to help individuals monitor their blood glucose levels. DexCom will be responsible for developing the sensor, while the life sciences division will focus on miniaturizing the final product.
Meanwhile, another major domestic giant appears slightly more imaginative than Google.
According to the U.S. tech news website Recode,Baidu to Develop Medical Robots with Voice Assistance for Patient Diagnosis and Treatment
This latest product is similar to WebMD’s voice translation app. Users need only quickly describe their symptoms, such as joint deformity, red eyes, or coughing, and Baidu will promptly provide diagnostic recommendations and locate the nearest medical specialist for the user.
It is reported that the project, named “AskADoctor,” was one of the earliest initiatives launched after renowned data scientist and former Google Brain researcher Andrew Ng joined Baidu.
The following is even more admirable in its ambition.
Spring Breeze Venture Capital aims to become the most professional investment fund in China’s mobile healthcare sector.
Last week, the launch ceremony of Chunfeng Venture Capital (established in late May by Chunyu Mobile Health in collaboration with relevant government agencies and multiple venture capital firms) was held in Beijing. Reportedly, this is China’s first fund dedicated to investing in the mobile healthcare sector. The initial fund totals RMB 300 million, with contributors including publicly listed companies, individual investors, and government-guided funds. Key areas of innovation targeted include smart hardware, surgical centers, physician groups, private clinics, convenience-store clinics, pharmacy-based clinics, online diagnostics, intelligent clinical decision support, chronic disease management, cross-border healthcare, rural markets, and the elderly population. The fund primarily targets early-stage mobile healthcare companies from inception to product-market fit (0 to 1).
The press conference also featured three startups incubated by Chunfeng Venture Capital: Chunyu International Medical, Smart Medicine Box, and Living Room Healthcare.
Among these, Chunyu International Medical primarily offers two core services: online remote consultations and offline cross-border medical treatment. Through online video and telephone consultations, it provides diagnostic and treatment recommendations for over 50 conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Offline, users can access cross-border medical services in eight countries—including the United States, Japan, Germany, South Korea, and Australia—covering areas such as medical aesthetics and treatment for serious illnesses.
In addition, regarding new products,Qilekang Expands Pharmaceutical Services, Launches “Dayun Online Clinic” for a Closed-Loop Health Service Ecosystem.
It is reported that Qilekang plans to start with pharmaceutical and healthcare products, gradually integrating resources from related enterprises in mobile health monitoring, physical examinations, and cross-border medical services. By leveraging channels such as logistics, payment systems, and wireless terminals to deploy and integrate technical data and other resources, and by collaborating with industrial partners across various segments of the value chain, the company aims to build an internet-based, one-stop closed-loop service for medical care management under the “Da Bai Yun Zhen” platform.
Currently, Qilekang’s mobile internet health management platform, “Da Bai Yun Zhen,” has entered a comprehensive trial phase. The platform is divided into doctor and patient interfaces. All collaborating physicians are from Grade A tertiary hospitals, and their specialties cover the majority of chronic diseases. Physicians join the “Da Bai Yun Zhen” network through second-degree connections, requiring referrals from trusted professionals and undergoing rigorous background checks to ensure medical qualifications and professionalism. Patients who have used “Da Bai Yun Zhen” can enjoy its services for life.
Three other partnerships have also been established, including those between Fosun Group and Xinhua Hospital.
Last week, Fosun Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.Both parties will engage in comprehensive, in-depth cooperation across insurance, health, management, and integrated medical-elderly care, forging a tightly knit O2O alliance of “Insurance + Health.”
According to VCBeat,Especially in terms of insurance, Fosun Group will designate its insurance and healthcare subsidiaries—Shanghai Xingyi Health Management Co., Ltd., Pramerica-Fosun Life Insurance Co., Ltd., and Yong’an Property Insurance Co., Ltd.—to engage in close business cooperation with Xinhua Hospital, actively supporting the development of Xinhua Hospital’s medical and health services.
Berry Genomics and Alibaba Cloud Create a Genomic Version of the "Compendium of Materia Medica."
Last week, Beijing Berry Genomics Co., Ltd. and Alibaba Cloud jointly announced their partnership to the public,Jointly build a data cloud centered on massive genomic data from the Chinese population to achieve precise interpretation of individual genomic data.
This time, the jointly cooperative "Shenzhou Genomic Data Cloud Project" will initially focus on batch computing, analysis, and storage of genomic big data on cloud platforms, thereby conducting frontier exploration together in the field of genetic big data.
Dr. Yu Fuli, Chief Bioinformatics Officer at Berry Genomics, stated, “Building a genomic big data platform is akin to creating a Chinese genetic version of the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu). It will document the most core genetic and biological information of the Chinese population, laying the foundation for the prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major diseases in this population. Its significance will be no less than that of the Compendium of Materia Medica, the monumental classic of Eastern medicine.”
Here’s a scoop,Nokia and Android Join Forces to Launch Health-Focused Wearable Devices.
Previously, NokiaPowerUser reported that Nokia’s job postings indicated its intention to develop a range of smart wearable devices focused on health and well-being. Now, insiders have revealed further details in this regard.
It has been revealed that the new device product team is working on the development of health-related wearable devices. These devices will integrate multiple sensors to accurately measure and report vital sign data, or analyze and generate reports via the Android Sensor API. Meanwhile, companion apps for both Android and iOS will also be launched.
In addition, Nokia’s patent applications related to wearable devices—such as those for notification displays and hover-style interactions—have also revealed some clues. According to the patent documents, Nokia has developed a health wristband capable of collecting data such as heart rate, blood pressure, and skin moisture. The wristband tightens when data collection is required and automatically loosens afterward.
Finally, some good news: China’s first 3D Digital Medical Research Center for Pediatrics has been established in Shanghai.
On August 13, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Materialise, a Belgian company, announced the joint establishment of China’s first Pediatric 3D Digital Medicine Research Center. Both parties aim to advance intelligent data analysis and personalized clinical treatment, comprehensively accelerating the research on 3D digital medicine technologies in China and their translational clinical applications in pediatric surgery.
3D bioprinting technology is renowned for its speed and accuracy, and has garnered significant anticipation due to its ability to integrate personalized manufacturing with the varied needs of patients; it is currently being applied in clinical medicine. The Shanghai Children’s Medical Center is actively preparing to establish the National Children’s Medical Center. Professor Liu Jinfen, Director of the center, stated that taking congenital heart disease in children as an example, the use of computer-based reconstruction techniques to create 3D anatomical models of patients allows for a more intuitive understanding of individualized cardiovascular anatomical structures. This is particularly beneficial for cases of complex congenital heart disease, enabling precise assessment of the morphology, size, location, and severity of cardiac defects, as well as the structure of surrounding tissues, while also facilitating in-depth analysis of cardiac function. This approach addresses the limitations of conventional imaging examinations and transforms the previous reliance on the lead surgeon’s experience and intraoperative judgment in complex cardiac surgeries.
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Healthcare Reform
Shanghai Issues New Elderly Care Service Subsidy Policy, Effective September 1: Four Categories of Seniors to Receive Varying Subsidy RatesThe Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau has issued a new subsidy policy for elderly care services in Shanghai, which will take effect on September 1. Under the policy, the monthly service hours allocated for the three levels of care—mild, moderate, and severe—are 30 hours, 40 hours, and 50 hours, respectively. The hourly service rates are RMB 18, RMB 18, and RMB 20, respectively. Elderly individuals from urban and rural households receiving subsistence allowances are entitled to full subsidies for elderly care services, while other categories of elderly recipients receive varying subsidy proportions.
Sichuan Aba Establishes a Medical Service System for Chronic Disease Rehabilitation:Recently, the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province held a work conference on the construction of a medical service system for chronic disease rehabilitation. The conference analyzed and reviewed the current status of the distribution, treatment, and rehabilitation of chronic diseases in Aba Prefecture, and outlined steps to progressively advance the development of the local medical service system for chronic disease rehabilitation.
Data
The Global Orthotics Market Is Expected to Reach $3.5 Billion in 2021:GlobalData recently released a report stating that the orthotics market is poised for growth across ten major markets—the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, China, and Brazil—with a moderate compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The United States continues to dominate the orthotics market, maintaining a 50% market share over the next six years.
Healthcare Market Sees 66 Financing Deals Totaling RMB 3.4 Billion in First Half of Year:According to a recent report released by Tencent Research Institute, there were 66 financing deals in China’s healthcare market in the first half of 2015, with the disclosed total funding amounting to RMB 3.4 billion. To date, pharmaceutical giants such as Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings, Pien Tze Huang, and Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, as well as internet behemoths from outside the industry including Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com, have all invested in or taken equity stakes in “Internet Plus” healthcare innovation enterprises through various means.
Sales and profit growth of pharmaceutical products continued to slow in the first half of the year:The Ministry of Commerce recently released the "Analysis of the Operation of the Pharmaceutical Circulation Industry in the First Half of 2015 and Forecast of Development Trends." The report stated that in the first half of 2015, influenced by the national macroeconomic environment, the overall operation of the pharmaceutical circulation industry showed a trend of stabilizing amid slowdown, with continued deceleration in sales and profit growth. The aforementioned report pointed out that in the first half of 2015, the total sales volume of seven major categories of pharmaceutical products nationwide reached RMB 841 billion, an increase of 12.4% year-on-year, representing a decline of 1.7 percentage points in the growth rate.
New Technologies
UK Doctors Use the Da Vinci Robot to Treat Lung Cancer, Significantly Reducing Patient Suffering
Recently, British cardiothoracic surgeon Sasha Stamenkovic has utilized a novel four-arm da Vinci surgical system—originally developed for prostate diseases—to treat lung cancer. This approach enables patients to be discharged within two days post-surgery, minimizing postoperative pain. Over the past year, his team has performed procedures on 30 lung cancer patients using the da Vinci robotic system and will present their findings at the World Congress of Cardiothoracic Surgery in September.
Newcastle Hospital currently has two da Vinci surgical robots, which are primarily used for the treatment of patients with tumors in the prostate, gynecological organs, liver, and rectum.
Detect Leukemia in One Hour
Researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil have recently developed a novel electronic device using nanobiocomposites that can rapidly diagnose leukemia, similar to blood glucose monitoring, thereby buying critical time to save patients’ lives.
The device can detect whether a patient carries cancer cells within one hour, whereas current diagnostic methods can take up to three weeks to yield results. Furthermore, the new device offers advantages such as low cost and portability. The research team stated that clinical trials involving a larger patient cohort will be conducted next, with the product expected to hit the market within two years.
Bayer Develops Foam Therapy for Treating Skin Diseases
Recently, pharmaceutical giant Bayer and Israeli biotech startup Foamix have joined forces to develop Finacea foam, a 15% azelaic acid solution for the treatment of rosacea (acne rosacea).
Finacea is one of the most commonly prescribed treatments. Previously available only as a gel, it is now also effective in a foam formulation. Foamix believes that its foam formulation outperforms any ointment or gel, offering superior topical therapeutic effects. The foam can rapidly cover a larger skin area, is readily absorbed by the skin, and leaves no residue. Furthermore, due to its use of well-established, safe, and gentle ingredients, it is suitable for a broad patient population.
Health-Monitoring Mirror
The leadership team at Semeoticons is developing Wize, a smart mirror capable of monitoring your health status. With the Wize mirror, gazing at your reflection is no longer merely an act of vanity; it has become a health tool that enables you to perform daily health checks simply by looking into it in your bathroom or bedroom.
In fact, the Wize mirror is not the world’s first smart mirror. Previously, Ming-Zher Pho developed a smart mirror capable of monitoring certain vital signs. In addition, there is a mobile application called Cardiio, which works in conjunction with a smartphone camera to monitor heart rate and blood pressure from facial images. Another application, SenseGlass, is designed for use with Google Glass and can monitor an individual’s mood and emotions.
Capital
