Helsinn Promotes the use of Mobile Technology in Cancer Supportive Care Through Mobile Health

LUGANO, Switzerland, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



The pharmaceutical group in Ticino, global leader in cancer supportive care, supports the International Conference on mobile technology dedicated to improve the quality of life of people with cancer in collaboration with SDA Bocconi and CERGAS Bocconi. 

The combination of medicine and mobile technology to improve the quality of life of people with a disease like cancer is called mobile health (mHealth). This is a real innovation in cancer supportive care, which Helsinn, multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lugano, promotes via the International Conference  "mHealth - Improve cancer supportive care" (Milan, April 4^th) organized in collaboration with SDA Bocconi and CERGAS Bocconi of the Bocconi University of Milan, Italy.

"As a pharmaceutical group leader in cancer supportive care, Helsinn seeks innovative treatments dedicated to satisfy the unmet needs of patients and their caregivers, in order to improve their quality of life, now in the present" says Riccardo Braglia, CEO of the Helsinn Group. In fact, supportive therapies must not only ease the pain and the other side effects of chemotherapy, like nausea and cachexia, they also must help patients and their families to understand the effects of the treatments and give them the chance to participate in the decision-making process of their care pathway.

Specially in this area, mobile health (the use of mobile devices like mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and other wireless devices) in medicine and public health - as defined by World Health Organization - can give a valid contribution in disease management and meet the needs of cancer patients. Patient monitoring devices enable to register biomedical parameters of the patient and forward them immediately to doctors and healthcare professionals with multiple benefits: remote monitoring allows patients to live at home rather than in an hospital; the collaboration and sharing of information between doctors is strengthened and this leads to better communication with patients and better understanding of their condition. Moreover mHealth allows to identify and promptly treat acute symptoms, avoiding complications and preventing readmissions to hospital.

The conference promoted by Helsinn has the main goal of understanding how mobile technology is changing cancer supportive care under the medical, economic and policy standpoint and how the interaction of the different stakeholder as doctors, policy-maker, industry, and patients may work.

"Helsinn's support to this initiative endorses the commitment of our company in consolidating its position as a leader and innovator in cancer supportive care , with great attention to the quality of life of each cancer patient" continues Braglia. "From a family business, in more than 35 years we are now a multinational company with offices and industrial plants in Switzerland, Ireland, U.S. and a representative office in China. Our peculiar and unique business model is focused on the strong collaboration with our partners - 69 around the world -and the healthcare professionals. However, in 35 years our goals have not changed: we are always committed in developing new drugs for patients with a special attention to the person" concludes Braglia.

The launch of an App Award, sponsored by Helsinn Group, will be announced during the event. The best mobile applications able to improve the quality of life of people with cancer will be awarded a prize amounting to €50.000.

About the Helsinn Group 

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and operating subsidiaries in Ireland, the United States and a representative office in China. Helsinn's business model is focused on the licensing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional supplement products in therapeutic niche areas. Helsinn is an important player in cancer supportive care. Helsinn Group in-licenses early-to-late stage new chemical entities, completes their development through the performance of pre-clinical/clinical studies and Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) development, and files and attains their market approvals worldwide. Helsinn's products are out-licensed to its network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected for their deep in-market knowledge and know-how whom Helsinn assists and supports by providing a full range of product and scientific management services, including commercial, regulatory, and medical marketing advice. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and the finished products are manufactured according to the highest quality, safety, and environmental standards at Helsinn's GMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland and supplied worldwide to its customers.

Further information on Helsinn Group is available at http://www.helsinn.com.

Contact Person:
Helsinn Group
Paola Bonvicini - tel. +41-919852121 email info-hhc@helsinn.com
HealthCom Consulting
Diego Freri, mob. +39-335-8378332 email diego.freri@hcc-milano.com
Laura Fezzigna, mob. +39-347-4226427 email laura.fezzigna@hcc-milano.com 
Carlotta Freri, email carlotta.freri@hcc-milano.com