Weekly Highlights of Internet Healthcare: June 8, 2015
Events & Perspectives
The Healthcare Industry’s “Wolf Is Here”
Recently, according to a research report released by Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, currently 142Real Estate Developeramong which 41 real estate developers have already or are currentlyTransformation, among whichThe largest number of companies, totaling 13, are involved in the healthcare (including elderly care) sector.. The real estate sector is undergoing such an intensive transformation that industry analysts attribute this to the end of the era when profits could be made with minimal effort, coupled with a gradual compression of profit margins. In contrast, the healthcare industry is widely recognized as a sunrise sector.
What are the pioneers who have been deeply engaged in this field for half a year up to?
First, let's take a look at the internet giants.
Recently,Zhuojian TechnologyCo-founder Wei Jianfeng revealed that it had already been obtained in early 2015RMB 150 Million Series B Financing Led by Tencent. In June last year, Zhuojian completed its first round of financing, amounting to RMB 40 million. So who is Zhuojian? In fact, five years ago, it began leveraging mobile internet to optimize pre-consultation, during-consultation, and post-consultation hospital services. Its relative obscurity stems from the fact that its coverage is primarily concentrated in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region and surrounding provinces, encompassing approximately 30 hospitals.
While it provides appointment scheduling and pre-consultation process optimization services like others, its distinction lies in not pursuing rapid expansion in the number of connected hospitals, but rather focusing on deepening service offerings. It extends closed hospital information systems to users, delivering value through user-friendly interfaces and value-added services.
Another notably aggressive move was made by Baidu, whoseBaidu DoctorWithin half a month, alreadyImplementationThree Provinces.
Following collaborations with the governments of Shaanxi and Anhui provinces, as well as with the Guiyang Municipal People’s Government and Guiyang Langma Information Co., Ltd., the third major province has been secured—HunanSuch rapid execution demonstrates that Baidu’s healthcare strategy has established a clear and well-defined operational model. Moreover, within just four months of its launch, Baidu Doctor has amassed over 400 million users, integrated with more than 800 hospitals, and enabled appointment scheduling with over 30,000 physicians.
RecentlyGooglealso confirmed that they currentlyTesting a health-related software suite, Study Kit, comprising Android and iOS applications as well as a Chrome extension, which also serves as the pilot for its Baseline Study project. Google aims to collect health data from the project and utilize this information for professional medical diagnostics and the treatment of diseases such as cancer, with the potential to even prevent health issues proactively as the project advances.
Let’s take another look at traditional pharmaceutical companies.
Since 2015, Kangmei Pharmaceutical has frequently expanded its “Internet+” initiatives. Recently, it partnered with Xinhua Net to build a health big data platform.
Kangmei Pharmaceuticalannounced in a public notice,To jointly invest RMB 300 million with Xinhua News Agency to establish Kangmei Health Think Tank Co., Ltd., with shareholdings of 57% and 43%, respectively. According to the announcement, both parties will leverage their respective advantageous resources, using the Kangmei Health Think Tank as a vehicle, to jointly build China’s most authoritative health big data platform. They will develop application products and business lines including health data mining, search, precision marketing, product research and development, chronic disease management, health consulting, and education and training. Furthermore, they will provide data support for government decision-making and corporate operations, as well as offer health information services to mid-to-high-end populations.
Fosun PharmaAlso disclosed last week, the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Yicheng Hospital Investment Management Co., Ltd.with Yulin Medical GroupExecution of the “Cooperation Framework Agreement,” with capital contributions from both partiesEstablishment of Yulin Medical Group Co., Ltd., with Yulin Medical Group holding a 51% equity stake and Shanghai Yicheng holding a 49% equity stake. This move represents Fosun Pharma’s further implementation of private capital participation in the restructuring and reform of public hospitals, as well as its establishment of mixed-ownership healthcare institutions.
In addition to the increased “Internet+” investment by traditional pharmaceutical companies, those who frequently send “stone hearts” also includeAUX Electric。
Last week, after a trading suspension of less than one month, Sanxing Electric swiftly unveiled a major private placement plan. The companyProposed private placement to raise approximately RMB 5.018 billion, aimed at strengthening core business operations while actively expanding operational scale through projects such as the Fuzhou Hospital expansion and the development of 300 primary healthcare institutions in Ningbo., establishing a regional health and medical service platform that integrates health management, remote monitoring, telemedicine, community rehabilitation, and wearable devices, thereby creating a complete smart healthcare service industry chain. Of this amount, RMB 2.5 billion is allocated to the construction project for 300 primary healthcare institutions in Ningbo, and approximately RMB 1.71 billion is directed toward the expansion and renovation of Fuzhou Hospital.
Note:The World’s First Robot for Remote-Controlled Surgery Has Been Unveiled！
A hospital in Florida, USA, has successfully tested remote internet-based surgical operations. A laparoscopic suturing procedure was performed 2,000 kilometers away using a teleoperated robotic system. The entire process proceeded relatively smoothly; however, latency issues persisted, ranging from 200 to 600 milliseconds. The next key focus will be on reducing this latency. This advancement means that, in the future, patients could receive surgeries from renowned experts at any hospital.
Healthcare Reform
2015 Zhejiang Determines Six Major Directions for Healthcare Reform
In 2015, Zhejiang Province’s healthcare reform focused on six key priorities: comprehensive reform of public hospitals, decentralization of high-quality medical resources, establishment of a universal health insurance system, enhancement of primary healthcare service capacity, improvement of the drug procurement mechanism, and encouragement and support for private-sector participation in healthcare delivery.
China Officially Drafts Antitrust Guidelines for Intellectual Property, with Pharmaceutical Sector Under Special Scrutiny
China to Crack Down Hard on “Patent Trolling” by Technology-Intensive Enterprises. The Price Supervision and Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission convened a preparatory meeting, officially launching the research and drafting of the Guidelines on Anti-Monopoly Regulation of the Abuse of Intellectual Property Rights. Experts stated that the drafting and promulgation of the Guidelines will have a substantial impact on the exercise of intellectual property rights and the sales of products and services in sectors such as information and communications and pharmaceuticals.
New Regulations Take Effect Today: Government Pricing Abolished for the Vast Majority of Drugs
In accordance with the “Notice on Issuing the Opinions on Advancing Drug Price Reform” issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other departments, starting from June 1, 2015, China abolished government-set pricing for the vast majority of drugs, with actual transaction prices primarily determined through market competition. Narcotic drugs and Class I psychotropic substances remain temporarily subject to NDRC-administered controls on maximum ex-factory prices and maximum retail prices.
VCBeat Exclusive
Overview of Baidu's Internet Healthcare Strategy
Teladoc, the First Online Consultation Company to File for an IPO, Discloses Revenue Data with Over 10 Million Members
IVF App “Ask a Doctor” Secures RMB 30 Million in Investment
Artery Interview |Interview Series on Internet Healthcare Startups in the Pearl River Delta: Ai Qiangua Smartwatch
30 Most Notable Healthcare Startups to Watch in 2015: MIRA Rehab – Gamifying Physical Therapy to Make Rehabilitation Engaging
30 Most Notable Healthcare Startups to Watch in 2015: Syapse, the Accelerator of Precision Medicine
Silicon Valley Investor: Why Data Science Contributes More to the Healthcare Industry Than Biotechnology?
How Many Tech Giants Are Rushing into the 3D Printing Market?
One Day, Organs Could Be 3D-Printed Inside the Human Body
Since the advent of 3D-printed hearts, surgeons have been able to begin simulation experiments.
Accenture: 2015 Survey Report on Physicians’ Use of Health IT
Internet Healthcare Startup Accelerator StartUp Health Adds 12 New Portfolio Companies This Year
Interpretation of Trending English Terms in Internet Healthcare:PPP/Digital Therapies
Data
Users on Medical Websites Show Greatest Interest in Gynecology and Plastic Surgery
Ji'ao Aggregation, a big data technology company, released a report analyzing user engagement with online medical consultations in May. The study surveyed 100 million online healthcare users in North and East China. The findings revealed that among online healthcare platforms in East China, "Quickly Ask a Doctor" recorded the highest traffic volume, whereas in North China, "Xunyi Wenyao" (Seeking Medical Advice and Asking about Medications) had the highest traffic. Across various medical specialties on online healthcare platforms, users showed heightened interest in gynecology and plastic surgery, accounting for 16.4% and 12.6% of attention, respectively. In terms of referral keywords, the ranking from highest to lowest was as follows: hemorrhoid-related issues, breast-related issues, physiological issues, and weight loss issues. Search term analysis indicated that users' primary areas of concern included pregnancy, cervical spondylosis, and the common cold. Regarding appointment booking rates, Xunyi Wenyao Network achieved the highest rate at 4.3%, followed by Yitong Wuyou Network and 39 Health Network.
Accenture: Digital Health Devices Will Save the U.S. $100 Billion in 2018
According to the latest research from Accenture, FDA-approved digital health devices will triple by 2018, and digital health products will save more than $100 billion in medical costs.
Overseas
US to Launch “Groundbreaking” Precision Medicine Clinical Trial
U.S. government health agencies announced on the 1st that a “groundbreaking” precision medicine clinical trial will launch this July, offering new hope for cancer patients with specific genetic abnormalities to be treated with targeted therapies. The trial, named NCI-MATCH, will include more than 20 drugs or drug combinations, each targeting a specific genetic mutation; some of these drugs are already approved for market, while others remain in the experimental stage. The initial phase of the trial will proceed in two steps: first, genomic sequencing will be performed on 3,000 cancer patients to identify the genetic mutations driving tumor growth; second, 1,000 participants will be selected from this group whose genetic mutations can be treated with the aforementioned drugs or drug combinations, and they will be assigned to different study groups, each comprising up to 35 individuals.
New Technologies
Science: A Single Drop of Blood to Detect History of Viral Infection
Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) have developed a new technology that makes it possible to detect current and past infections with any known human viruses from a single drop of blood. This method, called VirScan, is an effective alternative diagnostic test for viral infections.
Biomaterials: Living Biological Prosthetics!
A team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has taken a critical first step toward the development of transplantable bioartificial limb replacements! In this study, published in the journal Biomaterials, the researchers described how they used methods previously employed to construct bioartificial organs to engineer rat forelimbs with normal vascular and muscle tissues. They also provided evidence that the same approach can be applied to primate limbs.
Capital
