OHE
10/03/2016 12:27
GENERAL
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1227 HRS Orion Health Group Limited
GENERAL: OHE: Groundbreaking health sector research programme
10 March 2016
Groundbreaking health sector research programme announced
Orion Health joins with University of Auckland, Waitemata District Health
Board, and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on $37.8 million
research programme to position NZ as global leader in Precision Medicine
Auckland, 10 March - Orion Health (NZX:OHE) today announces a multi-million
dollar health technology research venture aimed at improving the healthcare
of all New Zealanders through the advancement of precision medicine.
The Precision Driven Health research programme is a major public-private
venture between industry, government and academia. The founding participants
are Orion Health, Waitemata District Health Board and the University of
Auckland, with support from the Ministry of Business Innovation and
Employment. It is intended that a combined $37.8 million will be invested in
the programme over seven years in the new area of precision medicine.
Precision medicine is enabled when all information that is pertinent to a
person's health and wellbeing - clinical, genetic, device (e.g. fitness
apps), environmental and lifestyle factors - is combined and made available
to the health professional and the patient. This allows them to make the best
decisions regarding the patient's treatment plan.
"Precision medicine is the future of health. New Zealand can lead the world
in this area," says Ian McCrae, Orion Health CEO.
"Existing medical data sources are not sufficient to enable personalised care
because past health care is not the sole predictor of someone's future health
- genetics, social circumstances, environmental exposure, and behavourial
patterns all play a part," he says.
"This research will offer the potential for improved patient health outcomes
through care more precisely tailored to individual needs. This includes an
improved suite of clinical decision support tools for doctors, the potential
to more accurately predict disease risk factors and enabling patients to be
in control of managing key risks to their health."
Mr McCrae says he expects the results of the Precision Driven Health research
venture to feed directly into Orion Health's product roadmap in time. It will
contribute to existing products such as Orion Health's Amadeus platform,
which includes the popular Rhapsody Integration Engine used by health
providers globally.
"It is exciting how much potential this research has to transform healthcare;
greatly improving treatment, and in some cases saving lives," Mr McCrae says.
It is intended that over time Orion Health and industry participants will
make up $23.8 million of the funding, which includes a personal contribution
by Mr McCrae. This would then be matched by $14 million of funding through
the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's research partnerships
programme.
Additional major commercial, healthcare provider and research participants
are expected to join the venture in the coming months.
-Ends-
For Investor Relations enquiries
Graeme Wilson
Chief Operating Officer
M: +64 21 101 3631
[email protected]
For media enquires
Sarah Putt
Corporate Marketing Manager
M: +64 21 610 592
E: [email protected]
About Orion Health
Orion Health (NZX:OHE) is a technology company that provides solutions which
enable healthcare to over 90 million patients in more than 25 countries. Its
open technology platform seamlessly integrates all forms of relevant data to
enable population and personalised healthcare around the world. The company
employs over 1250 people globally and is committed to continual innovation,
investing over 30% of total operating revenue year to date in research and
development, to cement its position at the forefront of precision medicine.
For more information visit www.orionhealth.com
End CA:00279086 For:OHE Type:GENERAL Time:2016-03-10 12:28:00
