Huma & Merck KGaA Collaborate to Develop Digital Solutions for Cancer Patients

In this collaborative effort, a Cross-Indication Disease Management Platform is being developed, with the initial launch set for 2024. This platform will provide direct-to-patient support to urothelial carcinoma patients.

Huma Therapeutics (Huma), a prominent global digital health company, has joined forces with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, to create a digital solution aimed at enhancing the understanding and management of cancer conditions and treatments.

This collaborative effort will develop a Cross-Indication Disease Management Platform, initially available to patients receiving cancer therapies from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

The initial launch of this direct-to-patient solution is scheduled for 2024 and will provide support to urothelial carcinoma patients in the United Kingdom.

Leveraging Huma's disease-agnostic Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) technology platform, which is the first of its kind to obtain EU MDR Class IIb regulation and FDA Class 2 510(k) clearance, the partnership between Huma and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany aims to:

- Enhance patients' understanding of their condition and prescribed treatment, thus promoting treatment adherence

- Facilitate open discussions between patients and their healthcare teams

- Deliver timely educational content to patients

- Create connections between patients and caregivers, fostering a supportive community network.

Dan Vahdat, CEO and founder of Huma said, "Huma is dedicated to advancing the frontier of digital-first care and research. Our collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is a pivotal step towards amplifying our impact on patient care at the individual and systemic levels. Our recent regulatory achievements mark a significant milestone, streamlining our ability to introduce innovative digital companion applications, alongside more sophisticated AI algorithms that may support patients and healthcare professionals alike. We are thrilled to join Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to develop this ambitious oncology platform."

Dr Mert Aral, chief medical officer, Huma, said, "A number of well-designed scientific studies have underscored the pivotal role digital health technologies can play in optimising care pathways in oncology, improving patient outcomes. In this significant collaboration with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the project strives to simplify the complex journey that cancer patients often face. The goal is straightforward – to deepen the understanding of patients about their condition, help them to navigate intricate care pathways seamlessly and to facilitate sustained adherence to therapies."

Huma Therapeutics is a global digital health technology company at the forefront of digital-first care delivery and research. Its modular platforms are utilised by over 3,000 hospitals and clinics, serving more than 1.8 million active users in healthcare and engaging over 700,000 participants in research.

In another development in the field of oncology, the Department of Defense (DoD) collaborated with Google in September this year to develop a smart microscope called Augmented Reality Microscope (ARM) that utilises AI to aid doctors in identifying different types of cancer. This collaboration seeks to support doctors in smaller labs grappling with staffing shortages and a growing caseload.