AstraZeneca (China) and Luca Healthcare announce a strategic partnership to develop out-of-hospital digital tools for screening and management of respiratory diseases and to explore digital solutions to support R&D and clinical trials in China

05 Nov, 2021

Shanghai, November 5, 2021 – AstraZeneca (China), a global innovation-led biopharmaceutical company, focused on developing impactful, science-driven, life-change medicines and Luca Healthcare, China’s category leader in clinically validated, software-based screening, treatment and patient management tools, today during the opening of the 4th China International Import Expo (“CIIE”) announced a strategic partnership to develop out-of-hospital digital tools for screening and management of respiratory diseases and to explore using digital solutions to support R&D and clinical trials in China.

Despite being a common, preventable, and treatable disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”) is the fifth leading cause of death in China. The reported prevalence of COPD is 8.2% for those over the age 40, or approximately 100 million people. In addition, there are another 45 million asthma patients in China. Current diagnosis rates are 30% and 28% for COPD and asthma, respectively. Many remain undiagnosed, raising awareness is the first step to improving rates of diagnosis.

“We look forward to working with AstraZeneca and China’s leading respiratory experts on developing algorithms to screen for respiratory diseases and manage exacerbations. More importantly, our digital tools will be developed and clinically tested specifically for Chinese patients,” said Echo Chen, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Luca Healthcare. “With the emergence of internet hospitals, 3rd party telemedicine platforms and other patient management and digital health channels, there are 620 million consumers in China who have touched an aspect of digital health. Luca Healthcare’s clinically validated, out-of-hospital tools can provide objective, smartphone-based solutions to screen and manage a wide range of diseases and conditions in a non-clinical setting. We are beyond excited to collaborate with a world-class partner such as AstraZeneca.”

About Luca Healthcare

Luca Healthcare is a leader in using AI algorithms and machine learning to develop predictive healthcare solutions. We build innovative software solutions that analyze behavioral and physiological characteristics associated with diseases across a wide range of therapeutic areas. The company’s digital solutions improve patient outcomes through disease diagnosis and identifying shifts in disease progression or exacerbations that require proactive interventions. Backed by scientific evidence and clinical validation, our platform delivers significant value to patients, providers and life sciences companies.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and Bio Pharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.