Supported start-up launches AI platform with Roche

Italian start-up PatchAi, who placed third in the EIT Health Catapult last year, has joined forces with Roche Italia to launch a virtual platform for cancer patients.

PatchAi for Smart Health Companion (SHC) embeds a virtual assistant which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to communicate with patients through empathic conversations.

Following a successful pilot of the platform in July last year, it is now available to operators across the health sector and delivers the Roche patient support programme for patients with haemato-oncological conditions in Italy.

The solution aims to help patients self-manage their health conditions through a variety of features. They can track and share daily diaries and manage adherence to care plans, all while generating real-world evidence via conversational reported outcomes (Co-PRO®). These insights are collected and analysed to improve patients’ experience, clinicians’ workflows and support care delivery.

The pair hope the collaboration can drive digital transformation of healthcare in Italy, paving the way for health system sustainability and optimising healthcare delivery by ensuring patient engagement.

Speaking about this ambitious goal, PatchAi CEO and Co-Founder, Alessandro Monterosso said: “We are proud to have realised this project, working at the forefront and doing now what patients need next within the digital health space too. With this major achievement, we will work towards playing an active role in redefining and revolutionising patient engagement within digital healthcare. To enable the transformation of the current health systems, we will be helping medical teams in rapidly and efficiently supporting patients and translate “patient centricity” into programmes that demonstrate their reliability and effectiveness from a health-economic perspective based on data-driven results.”

After a successful 2020 that saw the start-up take third place in the EIT Health Catapult, Patch AI are already looking at a very prosperous 2021. Earlier this year they closed a €1.7 million round that will allow the firm to scale internationally and expand into other therapeutic areas.

They will also continue their involvement with EIT Health, as they join the Rise to the Challenge event series in March, hosted by EIT Health Innostars, to talk about their journey and share their tips for success.