Digital therapeutics company Mika Health has announced a new collaboration with AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. The initiative, named “UNITE,” aims to enhance the treatment experience for women undergoing breast cancer therapy in Switzerland through the use of Mika Health’s AI-enabled mobile platform.
The UNITE initiative was unveiled at the HLTH Europe conference and signifies a significant step towards integrating digital solutions in cancer care. Mika Health’s platform, already a proven tool in Germany and the UK, leverages mental health-oriented coaching, AI-driven personalized recommendations, and daily symptom monitoring to support cancer patients. By expanding this support to breast cancer patients in Switzerland, the initiative aims to improve both the physical and mental well-being of these individuals.
Adam Nosal, Head of Oncology at AstraZeneca Switzerland, highlighted the importance of digital therapies in modern cancer treatment: “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,” he said.
Dr. Gandolf Finke, founder and Managing Director of Mika Health added: “This exciting combination of evidence-based digital support and innovative drug research is a significant opportunity to improve cancer treatment experiences and increase survival rates in the leading cause of cancer death in females worldwide.”
Initially launched in April 2024, the UNITE program will provide breast cancer patients in German-speaking regions of Switzerland with access to the Mika Health app. The support will soon extend to French and Italian-speaking areas, making the initiative inclusive of all Swiss regions. The program is backed by EUROPA DONNA Switzerland and the Cancer League, ensuring robust support for participants.
Mika Health’s app offers comprehensive resources on nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and financial issues, acting as a digital therapeutic agent for managing depressive moods and exhaustion. In clinical trials, the app demonstrated a 42% reduction in depressive mood and a 23% decrease in chronic fatigue compared to control groups, showcasing its effectiveness in enhancing patients’ quality of life.
Giuseppe Grossi, Country Manager of Daiichi Sankyo Switzerland, emphasized the importance of innovative digital solutions in cancer treatment: “Supporting the Mika app is a concrete example of the progress we want to promote in cancer treatment and beyond.”
Despite advancements in treatment, breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. In 2020 alone, there were an estimated 2.3 million new cases and 685,000 deaths globally. In Switzerland, over 6,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually.
