Lifebit and Flatiron Health expand into Japan to advance cancer research with secure RWD access
Lifebit and Flatiron Health aim to advance cancer research in Japan through secure real-world data (RWD) access, improving care with high-quality datasets and global insights.
Lifebit Biotech Ltd and Flatiron Health have expanded their partnership into Japan, with the goal of advancing cancer research through the secure use of RWD. This collaboration aims to facilitate research by providing safe access to high-quality datasets derived from electronic health records (EHR), with a focus on improving cancer care and patient outcomes.
Flatiron Health’s Japan-specific datasets, including those for gastric, colorectal, and breast cancers, are now available to approved researchers through Lifebit’s Trusted Research Environment (TRE) technology. Lifebit, a genomics and health data software provider, enables organizations worldwide to securely manage and utilize sensitive biomedical data. The TRE technology ensures data remains in its secure environment during analysis, therefore safeguarding privacy and security for oncology-related information.
Flatiron Health, an independent affiliate of the Roche Group, uses machine learning, AI, and real-world evidence to improve cancer care and create a more connected oncology ecosystem. By partnering with hospitals and health networks globally, it optimizes the use of RWD to enhance research and clinical insights. Eri Tajima, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Flatiron Health Japan, stated:
“This collaboration will enable the secure provision of sensitive oncology RWD, and significantly enhance treatment and quality of life for cancer patients. By integrating Lifebit’s advanced TRE technology with our commitment to revolutionizing cancer research and care, we aim to unlock the full potential of cancer data. This will accelerate research into new therapies and expedite the delivery of better treatments to patients.”
Dr Maria Dunford, CEO of Lifebit, added, “Our federated TRE allows for unparalleled access to valuable real-world cancer data, with the highest level of data security and privacy.”
As the companies note, one of the key benefits of this partnership is the ability to analyze large, diverse datasets across different regions. Lifebit’s TRE technology will enable researchers to explore how evidence from various markets can be applied globally, creating new opportunities for cross-country comparisons in cancer research. The use of larger datasets can enhance research outcomes by speeding up the discovery of more effective treatments.
Flatiron Health will present findings from research on early-onset gastric and colorectal cancer at the Asian Conference of Pharmacoepidemiology (ACPE) in Tokyo in October 2024. This study, which utilized de-identified datasets from Japan and the US processed through Lifebit’s TRE, highlights the potential of cross-country comparisons to reveal differences in disease progression and treatment approaches across regions.
Flatiron Health has operations in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan, while Lifebit’s TRE technology is already in use for major international projects, including Genomics England, Synapxe (Singapore’s national HealthTech agency), and CanPath (Canada’s largest population health study). Expanding this technology to Japan reinforces the ongoing effort to securely leverage sensitive biomedical data for research purposes.