360Medlink takes healthcare to the masses – digitally!

Founder and CEO Jean-Manassé Théagène started Montreal-based 360Medlink in 2010 after many years in the pharmaceutical industry.

360Medlink founder and CEO, Jean-Manassé Théagène.

His extensive experience in launching several pharmaceutical products, from cardiovascular and oncology drugs to companion diagnostics – including one of the first non-invasive tests to detect liver diseases – laid the foundation for bringing technology and healthcare together to improve patient care and medical outcomes.

What sets 360Medlink apart is its focus on healthcare technology and products that are geared specifically to treat special (or vulnerable) patient populations: patients from marginalized linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds, and those recovering from conditions such as mental health, infectious disease and cancer.

360Medlink’s 35 employees are located in Montreal, Tunis, Paris, and New York City and serves both private pharmaceutical companies and public healthcare systems and agencies, including half of the world’s top 15 pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

The company has two product lines: ready-to-use DHaaS (Digital Health as Service) platforms, and Digital Therapeutics (DTx), essentially software as medical devices.

The company’s main products are: TAVIE® a “clinically validated ‘virtual coach’ treatment companion,” Clinikly® a suite of products to help healthcare providers to coordinate patient care, and remote patient management, and TrialAdvisor® a clinical trial application.

And thanks to increasing demand, the company also offers custom made mobile app development services, and a direct-to-consumer offering (in AppStore and PlayStore) is planned for later in 2021.

360Medlink roadmap to success

Théagène was born in the Caribbean and identifies as Black. “I have lived it,” he says when asked about his experience with racism or bias. “But I never let that affect me, my staff, or my mission.”

However, he says that being a Canadian company gives 360Medlink an advantage. “Half of the work is done, given that we are often welcomed in most countries. And our expansion in the U.S. and in Europe has been helped by treaties such as NAFTA and CETA.”

360Medlink has received support from many federal and provincial organizations within Canada’s “trade toolbox,” including the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), PME-Montreal, Invest-Quebec, and Export Development Canada.

Since 2014, Théagène has been working with various Trade Commissioners in the United States, Tunisia, Europe, and elsewhere, who have been invaluable in helping to identify key contacts in target markets and make those all-important introductions.

 “The TCS has been – and continues to be – a phenomenal asset,” he says. “It has helped us to identify new markets, clients, and partners.”

The TCS already helped the company to set up a wholly-owned affiliate company based in Paris, and a development base in Tunisia that will hopefully open even more doors to markets beyond Europe.

And thanks to CanExport funding in 2019, the company was able to further explore opportunities in American and European markets, and is now in the process of obtaining European “CE mark” certification for its first official registration for its software as a medical device.

This standard is crucial for companies looking to do business in or with companies based in the European Union as it shows the products conform to European regulatory and scientific requirements for health, quality and safety. It also gives 360Medlink a significant advantage in being able to target both public and private payors (insurers).

Looking ahead

Théagène admits COVID-19 had “a huge impact” on 360Medlink’s business, but he says it’s been a double-edged sword.

While it put considerable short-term stress on the company, it also forced it to readjust its operations and resources and to refine its business model, allowing it to retain staff and regain its financial health by the last quarter of 2020.

Théagène sees lots of opportunities for growth, and plans to significantly increase the company’s presence in the United States and Europe – by 30 and 40 per cent, respectively – by the end of 2021. 

Closer to home, 360Medlink has been in discussions with many government agencies across the United States. For the past three years, the company has been working with the Health and Human Services (HHS) agency of Rhode Island, which recognized TAVIE-RED, to support people living with HIV with an Achievement Award, one of many accolades the company has received.

The company has also been very active in the TCS’ Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) programs in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and most recently the new bi-coastal Digital Health CTA in New York City and San Francisco which helped the company tap into the very large healthcare and financial industries of both coasts. 

Théagène credits his “fantastic” team and partners for 360Medlink’s many successes, and says the strong endorsement of physicians and positive feedback from patients is truly gratifying.

And he encourages other Canadian entrepreneurs to continue to take chances and take advantage of the TCS’s resources. “Use the TCS for information, introductions and guidance on the programs available to your company, notably CanExport and others,” he says. “Our taxes – very well invested!”