CURIATM is a first-of-its-kind app which uses leading technology to provide patients tailored options for treatments, trials, experts, and the opportunity to connect with the most similar patients.
CURIATM, a mobile app with a community of over 70,000 cancer patients is now available to patients in India and Switzerland. The app empowers patients with individualised information on treatments, clinical trials and experts, providing them much needed support to navigate the tough decisions throughout their cancer journey.
The World Health Organisation estimates 1 in 10 Indians will develop cancer in their lifetime.1 In Switzerland, 60,483 patients were diagnosed with cancer in 2020.2 According to one study, 70% of these patients are dissatisfied with the information they receive.3 CURIATM uses AI technology which searches 95% of the internet daily for updates to registries, drug approval sites, and clinical trial databases. Information is reviewed by a team of experts, and provided to patients in the app, based on a questionnaire to ensure only results relevant to the patient’s cancer profile are shown.
The tailored options seek to answer three main questions which are often at the forefront of patients’ minds when they are diagnosed with cancer: ‘What are the treatment options available to me’, ‘What clinical trials could I participate in’, and ‘Who are the experts for my cancer type’. CURIATM serves as a basis for patients to understand those options for their treatment journey, and have more engaged discussions with their doctor about what’s right for them.
In addition, CURIA’s feature “Cancer Twin”, addresses patients’ need to connect with someone who really understands what they’re going through. The algorithm matches those with cancer to others in the app who have the most similar cancer profile, based on a questionnaire.
Shari Sheranian is living with stage four breast cancer, triple hormone positive, and underscored the importance of sharing with someone who’s going through a similar experience, beyond support groups. “I have tried a few support groups. Have I found one that I feel is a great fit? No, I haven’t. My experience has been that patients tend to get together though their diagnosis is different – those who are early stage and hopefully curable, with those who have a metastatic, terminal prognosis. People are scared to talk to people who have a terminal prognosis.”
Once matched, they can share experiences through a private chat, anonymously or not. With such a personal experience, privacy is often an important factor. Cancer Twin chat is encrypted through blockchain, the highest level of security.
The launch in India and Switzerland follows successful launches in Italy, Spain and Germany. Chiara Thanner, CuriaTM App Lead, remarked “Our mission is to offer patients a world of possibilities, tailored to their individual cancer journey. Cancer Twin and CURIATM are important tools to reflect that each person living with cancer has their own informational and emotional needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer an option.”
The app is available now for download on Android and iOS.
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