Merck : Darmstadt, Germany, and Tencent Announce Collaboration on Intelligent Digital Healthcare Services in China

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, signed a strategic collaboration agreement today with Tencent, a leading provider of Internet value added services. The collaboration will primarily focus on increasing public disease awareness and providing more accessible healthcare services via digital platforms in China, by leveraging the company's scientific leadership and expertise combined with Tencent's leading technology in the fields of internet and artificial intelligence.

'In this collaboration with Tencent, we will jointly explore the innovative combination of patient-centric healthcare management and digital platforms, which brings us one step closer to reaching our mission of transforming the lives of 40 million patients in China by 2025,' said Rogier Janssens, Managing Director and General Manager of the Biopharma Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. 'The China Healthcare Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is committed to developing a multi-dimensional intelligent medical ecosystem together with more cross-industry partners for the benefit of patients.'

'Tencent launched a major strategic upgrade in 2018. While we continue to stay committed to Consumer-Based Internet, we are also actively embracing Industrial Internet[i], with the healthcare field being an important focus.' Zhang Meng, Vice President of Tencent Medical said, 'We want to build on advanced internet platforms and artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing capabilities, and work with partners to make healthcare in China more convenient and efficient for all patients.'

With the agreement, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Tencent will create intelligent digital healthcare services, thereby increasing public knowledge of diseases and improving patients' understanding of disease symptoms and effective treatment options. The collaboration will also provide patients with more convenient and smarter medical services, helping to better manage chronic diseases.

The focus areas will include all treatment areas of the China Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany: in allergies, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Tencent will explore digital services that increase the awareness of allergy symptoms and encourage adherence to treatment plans; in the area of infertility, the collaboration will work to enhance awareness of disease and treatment options and help patients who are in need of fertility resources to shorten the process of medical treatment. The two companies will also focus on diabetes, thyroid disorders and cardiovascular diseases, as well as oncology such as metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

In the future, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Tencent will continue to extend the scope of collaboration to other areas such as exploring the use of innovative medical service models based on 'A.I. doctors' to provide more comprehensive disease awareness education and treatment services for mCRC and other diseases.

Leveraging the collaboration with Tencent at the beginning of 2019, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is driving digitalization, an integral part of the strategy for China of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. With big data insights, new platforms and partnerships, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will adopt a more integrated approach to contribute to the key goals of the national 'Healthy China 2030' blueprint and to safeguard the health of all Chinese citizens.

[i]. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/30044/industrial-internet