RareStone and Tencent Collaborate on Service Ecosystem Focused on Rare Disease Patients in China

RareStone, formerly Citrine Medicine, and Tencent Holdings, a Chinese digital technology platform company, entered a strategic collaboration memorandum to develop a service ecosystem focused on rare disease patients in China.

Photo: RareStone CEO Shawn Xiang.

The combined effort will promote education of rare disease, focus social awareness on rare disease, and improve accessibility of medical information and services for rare disease by working together to provide innovative digital solutions to benefit rare disease patients. 

“It may take several generations of effort to make rare diseases ‘not rare.’ As a company focusing on rare disease solutions, we hold this responsibility on our shoulders and aim to contribute with our professional knowledge, experience and resources to the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases,” said RareStone CEO Shawn Xiang.

Through this strategic cooperation, RareStone will contribute its strength in the development of disease education, and Tencent will contribute its technical platform capabilities with access to its broad user base. Together, the two companies will develop education and services focused on rare disease awareness, diagnosis, and disease management. This digital effort will help more patients obtain timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment and services, the companies said. 

“Patients with rare diseases currently have numerous unmet needs in areas of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation,” said Yiou Wang, chairman of the patient organization Beijing Pain Challenge Charity Foundation who witnessed the signing of the agreement. “Many patients find it difficult to uncover correct information on rare disease from medical professionals as well as access rare disease treatment options. I am very pleased that we have companies, such as RareStone and Tencent, which use the power of science and technology to improve the health status of patients with rare disease.”

Several representatives of other rare disease patient organizations that also witnessed the signing of strategic cooperation included the China Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I Patient Alliance, Beijing Zhiai Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Care Center, Shenzhen Muscular Dystrophy Baby Care Center, Guangzhou Aizhiyi Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mutual Association, Hypercortisolism Alliance, Leukodystrophy Connect, and Dravet Baby Support Center. Patients expressed great hope and suggested future areas of focus for the collaboration between RareStone and Tencent.

“Tencent hopes to make digital upgrades in a variety of industries, and medical care is one such key area. In this strategic collaboration, Tencent will join hands with RareStone to better serve China’s 20 million rare disease patients through innovative digital solutions in the field of rare diseases,” said Tencent Vice President Meng Zhang.

Author: Rare Daily Staff