Oncology-focused digital therapeutics company Mika Health announced a partnership with pharma companies AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo for an initiative dubbed “UNITE” to provide digital therapeutics to women undergoing breast cancer treatments.
Mika Health’s app gives cancer patients access to psychological support to reduce disease-related anxiety, depression and stress. Patients can track side effects from medications, receive medication reminders, obtain education and nutrition advice, and coordinate appointments.
The digital therapeutic, already certified as a medical device and released in the EU, can be personalized to an individual’s specific type of cancer.
Through the partnership, Mika Health’s offerings will be used alongside pharmaceutical therapy.
First, German-speaking patients in Switzerland can access the offering, and then the companies will expand to include Switzerland’s French- and Italian-speaking regions.
“Digital therapies are becoming increasingly important in modern cancer treatment,” Adam Nosal, head of oncology at AstraZeneca Switzerland, said in a statement. “This partnership with Mika allows us to expand access to holistic cancer care and gain insights that will shape our broader efforts to improve therapeutic options for cancer patients.”
THE LARGER TREND
In June, Mika Health and the global nonprofit Cancer Support Community announced they will provide an AI-enabled oncology-focused digital therapeutic for U.S.-based cancer patients and their caregivers to access mental health and other support services free of charge.
Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership with AI oncology firm Massive Bio to provide free access to Miko’s offerings through Massive Bio’s platform.
Mika patients would also be given the ability to participate in Massive’s AI-enabled biomarker testing and clinical trial matching offerings.
The HIMSS AI in Healthcare Forum is scheduled to take place September 5-6 in Boston. Learn more and register.
