-- 개선된 치료 및 연구 목적의 디지털 건강 플랫폼 확장 도모

--선도적인 의료 및 기술 기업인 바이엘, 히타치, 삼성, IGV의 소니 이노베이션 펀드, 유니레버 및 PE 펀드 HAT의 투자 부문, 모두를 위한 예방적 및 예측적 치료 제공을 위해 Huma에 자금 지원

런던 및 뉴욕, 2021년 5월 14일 PRNewswire=연합뉴스 12일, Huma Therapeutics[http://www.huma.com/] Limited가 최근 약 1억3천만 달러 규모의 자금 조달 라운드를 완료했다고 발표했다. 이번 투자는 전국적인 디지털 '재택 병원(hospitals at home)'을 구현할 수 있는 Huma의 모듈식 플랫폼을 확장하는 한편, 제약 및 연구산업의 역대 최대 규모의 분산형 임상시험 진행을 지원할 예정이다. Huma의 플랫폼은 예측 알고리즘, 디지털 바이오마커 및 실제 데이터를 결합해 사전 예방적 치료 및 연구를 진전시킨다.

립스 바이 바이엘(Leaps by Bayer)과 히타치 벤처스(Hitachi Ventures)가 주도한 시리즈 C 자금 조달 라운드에는 새로운 전략 및 금융 투자자들도 주주에 합류했다. 삼성 넥스트(Samsung Next), IGV[*]의 소니 이노베이션 펀드(IGV by Sony Innovation Fund), 유니레버 벤처스(Unilever Ventures), HAT의 HAT 테크놀로지&이노베이션 펀드(HAT Technology & Innovation Fund by HAT)를 비롯해 개인 투자자인 Nikesh Arora(전 소프트뱅크 대표)와 Michael Diekmann(알리안츠 회장)도 새로운 주주가 됐다.

시리즈 C 자금 조달 라운드의 일환으로 추후 행사 가능한 7천만 달러 규모의 추가 약정도 합의됨에 따라, 전체 자금 조달액은 2억 달러 이상으로 증가했다. 골드만삭스 인터내셔널(Goldman Sachs International)이 Huma의 주요 투자 대리인 역할을 담당했다. 또한, HSBC Bank plc[±]와 노무라(Nomura)가 공동 투자 대리인을 맡았으며, 노무라 역시 주주가 됐다.

이번 신규 투자금은 미국, 아시아 및 중동에서 Huma의 디지털 플랫폼을 확장하는 데 사용될 예정이다. Huma는 최근 파이낸셜타임스에 의해 유럽에서 가장 빠르게 성장 중인 의료 회사로 선정됐다[1]. Huma는 4개국의 정부(잉글랜드의 NHS, 웨일스, 독일 및 UAE)로부터 신뢰할 수 있는 의료 기술 및 혁신 파트너로 명성을 쌓았다. 임상의와 공동 제작한 Huma의 디지털 '재택 병원(hospital at home)'은 독립적으로 약 두 배의 임상 용량을 제공하고, 재입원을 3분의 1 이상 줄이는 한편, 환자 순응도는 90% 이상에 달하는 것으로 나타났다[https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/media/documents/Evaluation_of_the_remote_digital_care_platform_221220.pdf ][2],[3]. 이 서비스는 비영리 기반으로 정부의 팬데믹 대응을 지원하고 있으며, 현재 Smith+Nephew와 함께 무릎 및 고관절 치환술을 받은 환자를 포함한 다양한 환자를 대상으로 사용되고 있다[https://www.smith-nephew.com/news-and-media/media-releases/news/smithnephew-and-huma-develop-remote-patient-monitoring-app-to-assist-the-safe-restart-of-uk-orthopaedic-surgery/ ][4].

2021년에 Huma는 임상 연구기관, 의료사업자, 납부자, 연구기관 및 기술회사와 새로운 파트너십을 구축한 숙련된 리더십 팀과 함께 미국에서 업무를 진전시키고 있다.

Huma는 아스트라제네카, 바이엘, 얀센을 비롯한 주요 생명과학 기업과 스탠퍼드 의과대학(Stanford Medicine), 존스홉킨스 블룸버그 공중보건대학(Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) 및 케임브리지대학교(University of Cambridge)[5],[6]와 같은 학술기관과도 협력하고 있다. 예측 치료와 머신 러닝의 교차점에서 이루어지는 Huma의 연구는 다양한 과학 및 의학저널[7],[8],[9],[10],[11]에서 동료 평가를 거쳐 발표됐다.

Huma는 글로벌 확장 계획을 위해 직원에서 이사회에 이르기까지 조직의 모든 측면에 새로운 인재를 영입 중이다. Claudia Suessmuth Dyckerhoff 박사는 생명과학 및 의료분야에 풍부한 글로벌 경험을 제공하기 위해 지난 4월에 Huma의 이사회에 합류했다. 지난 한 해 동안 Huma 리더십 팀은 기술 및 AI, 법률, 의료, 생명과학과 기업 업무 분야에 걸쳐 전문가를 영입하면서, 기량을 한층 더 쌓고 있다[12].

Huma의 설립자 겸 CEO인 Dan Vahdat는 "이는 Huma의 발전에서 결정적인 순간"이라며 "우리는 전 세계 사람들이 더 오래, 그리고 더 풍요롭게 살 수 있도록 돕겠다는 사명을 지원할 탁월한 파트너와 전략적 투자자를 보유하게 됐다"고 말했다. 이어 그는 "우리는 이미 '재택 병원'을 통한 의료 서비스 변화 방식과 분산형 임상시험이 1년 전만 해도 상상할 수 없었던 방식으로 연구를 진전시킬 방법을 선보이고 있다"면서, "이제 변화의 속도에 박차를 가하고, 전 세계적으로 더 나은 치료 및 연구를 위한 혁신을 이어갈 것"이라고 강조했다.

전 영국 보건부 장관이자 Huma 이사회 의장인 Alan Milburn은 "이는 Huma의 역사에서 중요한 순간으로, 본인은 새로운 파트너와 지속적이고 신뢰할 수 있는 관계 구축을 위해 노력할 것"이라고 언급했다. 그는 "우리는 전례 없는 시대에서 건강과 복지의 중요성을 과거 어느 때보다 실감하고 있다"라며, "파트너와 함께 우리의 전문지식, 기술 및 혁신을 활용해 의료 및 연구의 국면을 바꾸고, 모든 곳에서 사람들의 건강에 영향을 미칠 것"이라고 말했다.

Huma 이사회 이사 Claudia Suessmuth Dyckerhoff 박사는 "팬데믹은 전 세계 의료 시스템 전반에 걸쳐 약점을 드러냈지만, Huma는 협력과 혁신, 그리고 따뜻한 리더십을 통해 디지털 기술로 환자를 더욱 빠르고 안전하게 치료하고, 임상 연구의 가속화를 통해 치료를 위한 신속한 접근을 지원할 것"이라고 설명했다. 

전 세계 사람들의 건강 증진을 목표로 하는 Huma의 야망은 새로운 글로벌 파트너십을 통해 더욱 가속화될 전망이다. 립스 바이 바이엘(Leaps by Bayer)의 책임자인 Juergen Eckhardt는 "립스 바이 바이엘의 비전에 따라, Huma의 전문지식과 기술은 예방 및 치료에 대한 글로벌 패러다임의 전환을 주도하고, 데이터와 디지털 기술을 통한 연구 노력을 강화할 것"이라면서, "우리는 세상을 더 나은 방향으로 변화시킬 수 있는 잠재력을 가진 우리 시대의 가장 혁신적인 기술에 투자하고 있다"고 말했다. 이어 그는 "Huma의 초기 투자자로서, 우리는 Huma가 의료 및 생명과학 분야의 선도적인 디지털 혁신업체에 완벽하게 부합하는 회사임을 누구보다 잘 알고 있다"라고 덧붙였다.

히타치(Hitachi) 스마트 라이프 사업부 Keiji Kojima 부사장은 "Huma는 종합적인 원격 환자 모니터링 플랫폼을 구축하면서 강력한 실적을 쌓았다"라며 "Huma와의 협력을 통해 세계 최고의 의료 기술을 아시아의 새로운 시장에 도입하게 된 것을 매우 기쁘게 생각한다"고 말했다. 또한, 그는 "협력을 통해 새로운 디지털 의료 제품을 발전시켜 모두를 위한 더 나은 치료와 연구를 강화할 것"이라고 덧붙였다.

삼성 넥스트(Samsung Next)의 Jonathan Machado 수석 투자 이사는 "Huma는 의학을 사후대응이 아닌 사전 대비 방식으로 필수적인 전환을 진전시키고 있으며, 그들의 여정에 동참하게 된 것을 기쁘게 생각한다"라며 "주요 과학 출판물로 검증된 회사의 증거 기반 접근 방식과 대규모의 신속한 서비스 제공에 대한 인상적인 기록은 타의 추종을 불허한다"고 언급했다. 그는 또한 "Huma 플랫폼과 디지털 바이오마커 포트폴리오가 병원, 생명과학 및 집단 건강 이니셔티브 전반에 걸쳐 사전 예방적 치료에 지속해서 영향을 미치기 위해 삼성의 생태계와 협력 방안을 모색하게 된 것을 기쁘게 생각한다"고 말했다.

소니 이노베이션 펀드(SIF)의 CEO 겸 최고투자관리자(CIM)이자 혁신성장벤처(IGV)의 최고투자책임자(CIO)인 Gen Tsuchikawa는 "우리는 Huma의 디지털 '재택 병원' 플랫폼과 데이터 중심 접근 방식이 전 세계 의료 서비스를 새롭게 정의할 것으로 믿는다"라며 "Huma가 미국, 유럽, 중동 및 아시아에서 지속해서 사업을 촉진할 수 있도록 지원하게 된 것을 기쁘게 생각한다"고 말했다.

HAT CEO Ignazio Castiglioni는 "Huma의 선구적인 기술은 의료 산업의 판도를 완전히 바꿀 수 있다"라며, "네 번째 PE 펀드를 보유한 HAT는 이 흥미로운 여정의 다음 단계에서 회사를 지원함으로써, 세계적인 인재들과 협력하게 된 것을 기쁘게 생각한다"고 말했다.

This press release is also available in English here.

Huma 소개

Huma는 사람들이 더 오래, 더 풍요로운 삶을 살 수 있도록 돕는 글로벌 건강 기술 회사다. 회사의 모듈식 플랫폼은 다양한 질병 영역에 걸쳐 디지털 '재택 병원'을 지원하고, 생명과학 분야에서 세계 최대 규모의 분산형 임상시험 및 연구를 발전시키고 있다. 회사의 플랫폼은 예측 알고리즘, 디지털 바이오마커 및 실제 데이터를 결합하여 사전 예방적 치료 및 연구를 진전시킨다.

Huma의 '재택 병원'은 영국 NHS, 웨일스, 독일 및 UAE 전역의 환자 치료를 지원한다. 증거에 따르면, 이를 통해 임상 용량을 두 배로 늘리고, 재입원율을 3분의 1로 감소시키며, 비용을 절감하는 동시에 안전한 고품질 치료를 제공할 수 있다. 회사는 팬데믹에 대처하기 위해 비영리적인 코로나19 디지털 서비스를 중앙 정부에 제공하고, 이를 지원하기 위해 '재택 병원'을 보완하는 100만 개 이상의 장치를 공급했다. www.huma.com

추가 자료:

1. Huma, 유럽에서 가장 빠르게 성장 중인 의료 회사로 선정(Huma named Europe's fastest growing healthcare company): https://huma.com/Huma-FT1000-Press-Release.pdf

2. 코로나19 환자를 위한 Huma의 디지털 '재택 병원'의 영향에 대한 NHSX 보고서(NHSX report into the impact of Huma's digital 'hospital at home' for Covid-19 patients): https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/media/documents/Evaluation_of_the_remote_digital_care_platform_221220.pdf

3. 코로나19 환자를 위한 Huma의 디지털 '재택 병원' 프로젝트, HSJ Award 2021 최종 후보에 올라(Huma's digital 'hospital at home' for Covid-19 patients is part of a project shortlisted for HSJ Award 2021): https://huma.com/thoughtpiece/hsj-value-awards-2021

4. Huma, 무릎 및 고관절 치환술 환자를 위한 수술 전후 치료 운영(Huma operates peri-operative care for patients undergoing knee- and hip-replacements): https://www.smith-nephew.com/news-and-media/media-releases/news/smithnephew-and-huma-develop-remote-patient-monitoring-app-to-assist-the-safe-restart-of-uk-orthopaedic-surgery/

5. Huma, 케임브리지 대학 MRC 전염병학 부서의 Fenland 연구의 일환으로 무증상 환자의코로나19 검출 연구 지원(Huma is helping to power research detecting Covid-19 in asymptomatic patients as part of the Fenland research study by University of Cambridge's MRC Epidemiology unit)[https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/university-of-cambridge-researchers-and-huma-begin-in-depth-study-of-early-detection-of-covid-19-infection-875563042.html ]

6. Huma, 심방세동 환자를 위한 분산형 디지털 임상 시험에 대한 연구 지원: 바이엘 및 스탠퍼드 대학의 심방세동 환자의 디지털 분산형 임상(DeTAP) 센터 연구(Huma is helping to power research into a decentralized digital health trial for patients with atrial-fibrillation: Bayer and Stanford University's Center for Digital Health Decentralized Trial in Atrial Fibrillation Patients (DeTAP) study)[https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bayer-clinical-trials-collaborate-road-digitalization-moeller-md/ ]

7. Huma, 웨어러블 심박수 모니터의 데이터를 활용한 심혈관 건강 평가 연구 발표(Huma published research into using data from wearable heart rate monitors to assess cardiovascular health): Sensors [https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/4/1463 ]

8. Huma, 정신 및 일반 건강 예측을 위한 웨어러블 기반 심박수 가변성을 활용한 딥러닝 연구 발표(Huma published research on deep learning with wearable based heart rate variability for prediction of mental and general health: Journal of Biomedical Informatics): Journal of Biomedical Informatics [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1532046420302380?via%3Dihub ]

9. Huma, 스마트폰 데이터를 활용한 '모든 사망 원인'을 예측하는 연구 발표(Huma published research into using smartphone data to predict 'all cause mortality'): JMIR mHealth[https://mhealth.jmir.org/2021/2/e25655 ]

10. Huma, 급성 의학에서 앱을 통한 디지털 건강 영향에 대한 연구 발표(Huma helped publish research into the impact of digital health through an app in acute medicine): JMIR Formative Research[https://doi.org/10.2196/23190 ]

11. 디지털 코로나19 '재택 병원'에 대한 Huma의 연구, 영국 의학저널에서 논의(Huma's work on digital Covid-19 'hospitals at home' was discussed in the British Medical Journal): The British Medical Journal[https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2119 ]

12. Huma, 디지털 건강 분야의 리더 영입(Huma hires leaders in digital health): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-digital-health-leader-huma-announces-us-expansion-to-advance-virtual-care-and-research-301216230.html

13. Huma, '기술 및 비즈니스 모델 혁신의 선두에 있는 세계에서 가장 유망한 스타트업 및 스케일업으로 구성된 초청그룹인 세계경제포럼의 글로벌 혁신자 커뮤니티'에 선정(Huma has been selected to be part of the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community, 'an invitation-only group of the world's most promising start-ups and scale-ups that are at the forefront of technological and business model model innovation'): https://www.weforum.org/about/global-innovators/

14. Huma, Biobeats 및 TLT 인수(Huma acquires Biobeats and TLT): https://huma.com/files/HumaRebrandPressRelease_20200416.pdf

* Innovation Growth Ventures Co., Ltd.(IGV)는 소니 이노베이션 펀드(Sony Innovation Fund) 및 다이와 캐피탈 홀딩스(Daiwa Capital Holdings)가 관리한다.

± HSBC Bank plc("HSBC")는 건전성감독청(Prudential Regulation Authority)이 승인하고, 영국에서 금융행위감독청(Financial Conduct Authority) 및 검전성감독청의 규제를 받고 있다. HSBC는 Huma Therapeutics의 재정 자문 역할을 수행한다. 본 보도자료에 설명된 문제와 관련해 HSBC는 고객에게 보호를 제공하거나 본 보도자료에서 언급된 문제와 관련된 조언을 제공하는 것에 대해 Huma Therapeutics 이외의 누구에게도 책임을 지지 않는다. HSBC나 그룹 사업체 또는 그 계열사는 본 발표 또는 보도자료에 언급된 문제와 관련해 HSBC의 고객이 아닌 개인에게 어떠한 의무나 책임(계약, 불법행위, 법령상 또는 그 외 관계없이 직접적이든 간접적이든)도 지지 않는다.

출처: Huma