This year has certainly started with gusto for healthcare technology investor NetScientific (LON:NSCI) as it struck two significant partnerships with big US groups in the first two months.
In addition, one of its companies was handed a big boost after its technology was endorsed by the USA's powerful National Cancer Institute.
The AIM- listed biomedical firm is invested in a portfolio of 12 companies, which it hoped to push up the value chain - with a main focus on digital health, diagnostics and therapeutics.
According to chief executive Francois Martelet recently the two main portfolio firms driving group growth are Vortex - a California based cancer circulating cells specialist and Wanda - an analytics software group, whose aim is to reduce US hospital admissions.
Wanda has developed a way to digitally monitor people with congestive heart failure and other chronic conditions, so that specialists can monitor risk and lower readmissions.
And Wanda's traction is growing. Today (March 16), it welcomed distinguished physicians and health economics scientists, to a newly formed scientific advisory board, which will advise management.
And last month, it unveiled a significant milestone, revealing it was to partner with leading US hospital group Dignity Health, whose operations span 21 states, to launch a software platform to improve cancer care.
That platform is called OncoServe and allows clinicians to work together to establish the most effective treatment plan and helps to reduce admin costs.
Not only does it endorse Wanda's technology but it was the second partnership it has sealed since the start of 2016.
In January this year, Wanda also inked a deal with Chicago-based Health Resource Solutions (HRS) to provide its chronic condition digital management system.
HRS looks after more than 1,000 patients per month helping them to have a higher quality of life at home rather than in hospitals.
The first patients are expected to start using the platform in the first quarter of this year.
Such technologies are significant because in the US, the system means hospitals have to pay when patents are discharged then re-admitted.
Meanwhile, on the therapeutic development side, subsidiary PDS Biotechnology signed a co-operative research and development agreement earlier this year with the US National Cancer Institute for three phase II trials of a range of cancer immunotherapies.
It plans to invest a further US$500,000 into portfolio company PDS Biotechnology after the latter released ‘encouraging’ phase I clinical trial results.
Martelet told Proactive, the NCI had put in significant funds, it was a "validation" of the technology and first interim data would be expected within the next two to two and a half years.
"We are encouraged by these promising Phase I results, which provide validation of the Versamune platform technology,” said NetScientific chief executive Francois Martelet.
PDS's Versamune platform allows users to design immunotherapies, which efficiently deliver tumour antigens to the patient's own immune system, while simultaneously stimulating the generation of potent tumour-killing T-cells.
The NCI research will look at early stage cancers, cervical initially, but also prostate and breast cancer.
So there's lots going on and plenty more ahead for the firm.
Shares stand on April 13 down 2% to 74p each, valuing the company at around £45mln.