Huma partners with Merck KGaA to develop cancer care digital solution

Huma Therapeutics, a global digital health company, is partnering with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to develop a digital solution called the Cross-Indication Disease Management Platform. This platform aims to enhance the understanding and management of cancer patients and their treatment. It will be accessible to patients undergoing cancer treatments provided by Merck KGaA. The initial release is planned for 2024, starting with support for patients with urothelial carcinoma in the UK.

The collaboration leverages Huma's disease-agnostic Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) technology platform, which has achieved EU MDR Class IIb regulation and FDA Class 2 510(k) clearance. The primary objective is to improve patients' understanding of their medical condition and treatment protocols, ultimately promoting adherence to prescribed treatments. The partnership also aims to facilitate meaningful discussions between patients and their healthcare teams, deliver timely educational content, and foster connections between patients and caregivers, creating a supportive community network.

Huma CEO and founder Dan Vahdat views this collaboration as a significant step in enhancing patient care, both at the individual and systemic level, with the potential for innovative digital companion applications and advanced AI algorithms. 

Huma's chief medical officer, Mert Aral, emphasises the pivotal role of digital health technologies in optimising care pathways in oncology and improving patient outcomes. The collaborative project with Merck KGaA aims to simplify the complex journey that cancer patients often face, deepening patient understanding of their condition and facilitating sustained adherence to therapies.