MSKCC launches India site offering telehealth services for cancer patients 

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a New York-based private cancer centre, has launched its Indian branch.

Based on its press release, MSKCC India will be offering remote video and written consultations to cancer patients. Other services include pathology diagnosis; radiology scan reviews; next-generation sequencing of a patient's tumour and treatment recommendations; and travel assistance for patients recommended for treatment in MSKCC in New York City.

The cancer care provider has tapped iCliniq, a global telemedicine platform provider based in India, for the delivery of its virtual services. 

MSKCC India will have a physical site in Chennai where medical staff will work to coordinate patients and doctors with their consultations. The staff are able to communicate in English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. 

"Meeting the needs of cancer patients in India and improving their long-term health and survival rates will require close collaboration with the cancer community in India, and MSKCC India marks an important first step toward advancing such collaborations," said Sir Murray Brennan, SVP of International Programmes at MSKCC. 

"MSKCC India will help us provide high-quality care to more individuals by bringing together our experts, Indian doctors and scientists, patient advocacy groups and other stakeholders," said Dr Mrinal Gounder, medical oncologist and Physician Ambassador to India and Asia at MSKCC. 

Filipino health tech startup gets government backing to use AI in digital medical procurement

Medhyve, a Filipino health startup, has received a research grant from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology. 

With the funding, the startup said in a press statement it will enhance its AI canvassing and smart product recommendations tools for healthcare providers. 

The startup runs a platform that offers a range of AI-powered procurement tools and dashboards that enables "more efficient" procurement for hospitals. Its AI tech is based on data gathered from existing procurement practices in select hospitals. The platform currently hosts over 3,000 products, including global brands Johnson & Johnson, Omron and Diversey.

"The project is really based on improving the procurement speed and making efficient spending for these hospitals through AI," Medhyve CTO and Project Leader Gabriel Lopez said.

Berry Oncology rakes in $99M in Series B1 funding round

Berry Oncology, a unit of Shenzhen-listed biotechnology firm Berry Genomics, has raised $99.15 million in a Series B1 financing round led by China Merchants Capital Management Co. This brings its total capital raised so far in the year to $154.4 million. 

The company said in a press release that its new funds will be used to "meet the growing demand for early cancer screening and diagnosis" and to further expand its operations.

Berry Oncology developed the early liver cancer screening tool called Lai Si Ning. Running on HIFI screening technology, the device can detect liver cancer six to 12 months prior to the onset of the disease. It is available for purchase on the Taobao e-commerce site.

The early liver cancer screening market in China could potentially reach a value of $1.64 billion by 2030, according to Guoyuan Securities Co.

"Adhering to its mission of 'Diagnose all cancers early, treat all patients precisely', the company will create more valuable genetic testing services for immunotherapy, personal health management and precision treatment of cancers. Berry Oncology will work with our business partners to develop China's early screening solutions and become a bellwether in the sector in China and globally," Berry Oncology CEO Zhou Jun said.