Cure Forward Creates First ‘Patient Activation’ Platform Launching In September 2015

Offering Patients the Unprecedented Ability to Understand and Use Their Molecular Data in a Connected Community; Ushering in Patient Participation in Precision Medicine

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cure Forward, an online patient activation platform, today announced the creation of a new offering for patients to understand and use their personal molecular data. In the developing era of precision medicine, a disease’s unique molecular fingerprint can increasingly provide the specific information necessary to effectively manage or treat it. Cure Forward is harnessing molecular science to connect patients with relevant information, treatment options, and other patients with similar characteristics, making patient participation in precision healthcare possible. The site will launch in in September of 2015.

“The effect of better understanding your own data is liberating and empowering, just at a time when patients want and need to be more involved in making their own care decisions.”

Cure Forward's Vision for Patient Activation

The complexity of genomic information necessitates tools to make it understandable and actionable for patients and their families. Cure Forward is built on the insight that patients both want and need to know about their specific medical conditions. With the rise of genomic data, patients can now be equipped with information about their disease at its molecular level. With this molecular data, patient involvement in their care can unlock untapped potential for treatments or even cures.

To accomplish this aim, people need to access their data. At Cure Forward, patients can request their genomic results from physician-ordered laboratory tests performed by accredited diagnostics laboratories, delivered in digital form to their online account. Cure Forward has established partnerships with leading diagnostics laboratories for on-demand data access upon a patient’s request.

Cure Forward’s initial offering will be focused on Oncology. The molecular science of other health conditions, from neurology to cardiovascular disease, is rapidly improving through new research, and Cure Forward will activate patients in every area where it can have a positive impact toward managing and overcoming disease.

Patients Own their Health Data

At Cure Forward, patients own the health data they have authorized for Cure Forward, and they decide how it is used. Maintaining privacy is a priority for the company, and the Cure Forward team has worked with experts, survivors, and patients to craft a policy and platform security measures that ensure the patient remains in control of their own data.

Gene Stories

Cure Forward’s website offers apps to patients that are customized based on a patient’s personal molecular data. “Gene Stories” are relevant and trustworthy online summaries educating patients about the genes in which they have mutations. This content is written by journalists who bring the unique ability to make science relevant and understandable for popular audiences.

Clinical Trial Exchange

Transformational therapies emerge through clinical research, but matching to a clinical trial to can be very difficult: very few patients actually apply to clinical trials, and researchers struggle to find participants who meet selection criteria. Cure Forward applies a network solution to this problem, striving to increase patient participation in clinical research, to help individuals gain access to new therapies, and to facilitate new innovations going to market sooner to help all patients in need of treatment. Patients have the ability to use their molecular data to post to an online forum, where trial recruiters invite patients to participate in applicable trials.

By identifying currently available options for additional clinical testing and research trials, based upon genetic test data provided by patients or their providers, and facilitating a connection to others for those patients who seek a relevant precision medicine social network, Cure Forward enables patients to take an active role on their health care team.

Tribal Knowledge Network

Cure Forward includes a patient and survivor community facilitating connections among people who share their molecular and clinical attributes. Within “tribes” of similar people, individuals can share experiences, information, or even band together to drive research forward.

“We believe that in giving patients the ability to practically understand and manage their own data, we can tear down the opaque barriers that exist between people and their options. In doing so, we hope to help improve care for individuals and accelerate cures for a community,” said Martin Naley, Chief Executive Officer, Cure Forward. “The effect of better understanding your own data is liberating and empowering, just at a time when patients want and need to be more involved in making their own care decisions.”

“The ability to use one’s own data to make decisions and find useful resources is expected in so many aspects of life. Data-driven consumer platforms have changed the face of real estate, banking, even venture investing,” said Aaron Kantoff, Vice President of Apple Tree Partners. “A patient-driven multi-sided platform in health care could be revolutionary and unlock huge value for everyone involved.”

About Cure Forward

Cure Forward is a patient activation company bringing together science, community and education, giving patients unprecedented ability to utilize their molecular test data. Through the company’s website, patients can connect with relevant information, treatment options, and other similar patients. Cure Forward makes personalized healthcare accessible and approachable for patients and caregivers, activating their potential for cure or action against their disease. Cure Forward was incubated and launched by Apple Tree Partners, a leading healthcare venture capital firm headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit www.cureforward.com.