Not just interactions. How is Medbase redefining clinical decision support?

NEWSROOM

Not just interactions. How is Medbase redefining clinical decision support?

Interview | Healthtech of the Week series | ComeCreationsGroup

23.2.2026

The Healthtech of the Week series is not just about innovation. It is primarily about the people who are its recipients and the teams behind the various ideas, implementation, testing, certification, and deployment. In a world where drug decisions are less and less about a single condition and a single drug, the safety of pharmacotherapy is becoming a strategic challenge for everyone.

This is where Medbase comes in, a solution born out of the clinical and scientific experience of Scandinavian medicine. We were intrigued by how it shows the real relationship between evidence-based knowledge and the support of doctors at the point of patient care. It is a story of how organizing information is becoming one of the key tools for improving the quality of treatment today.

a doctor and the right medication

The story of Medbase begins not in a start-up garage, but in an academic and clinical environment. The roots of the project go back to the Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Centre, where nearly two decades ago practitioners encountered a very specific problem: the growing complexity of pharmacotherapeutic decisions. Polypharmacy, multimorbidity, and an aging population have meant that doctors and pharmacists increasingly have to make decisions in conditions of information overload and time pressure. 

Medbase was created in response to this gap. From the outset, its ambition was to organize key information on the safety of pharmacotherapy and present it in a form that is useful at the very moment when a clinical decision is made. The idea was not to create yet another database, but a tool that guides the user from risk identification to recommended action, in the spirit of Evidence-Based Medicine. 

– From the very beginning, we knew that it was not enough to describe the risks. Clinicians need clear, evidence-based guidance on what to do next. From the outset, Medbase was intended to be a support at the point of patient care, not just another tab to open after hours. Our databases are alive and constantly evolving, taking into account the dynamics of the field of pharmacotherapy. New data is identified and evaluated for quality and clinical relevance, and then implemented into Medbase resources on a quarterly basis. The process is overseen by a qualified clinical team of physicians and pharmacists specializing in clinical pharmacology with practical clinical and scientific experience, says Sławomir Kmak, Regional CEE Business Development Leader & Head of Operations Poland.

Although people are the most important aspect of every aspect of the work, Medbase does not underestimate the development of artificial intelligence. How has it been applied in their case?

Slawomir Kmak, Regional CEE Business Development Leader & Head of Operations Poland.
Slawomir Kmak, Regional CEE Business Development Leader & Head of Operations Poland

AI, flexibility and scalability

The creators of Medbase have taken a balanced, even conservative approach to the use of artificial intelligence, deliberately differing from the prevailing enthusiasm in the healthtech industry. AI algorithms play a supporting role here and are mainly used at the stage of searching scientific publication databases. The core work (including clinical evaluation of sources, content updates, and formulation of recommendations) remains in the hands of a team of experts. As the creators of the solution emphasize, the clinical knowledge on which therapeutic decisions are based must be validated by people, clearly defined procedures, and experience, not by algorithms. This approach strengthens Medbase’s credibility, especially in the context of integration with healthcare systems and clinical responsibility.

At the same time, Medbase has been designed from the outset as a scalable and flexible solution. The platform supports integration with EHR systems, mapping of local drug trade names, and adaptation to the specifics of national registries. An important part of the implementation process is also the training of medical personnel, tailored to the needs of a specific facility or the entire healthcare system.

The company is also actively involved in educational and scientific activities. An example of this is its cooperation with the Supreme Medical Chamber and the NIL-IN Network of Innovators, which has provided training for doctors and dentists. Sharing best clinical practices and experience is considered an integral part of the mission. From a systemic perspective, interoperability is also crucial, as Medbase natively supports standards such as INN, ATC, ICD-10, and SNOMED, enabling efficient cooperation with local registries and IT systems. It is this adaptability that has allowed for implementation in more than 20 countries, including at the level of central healthcare systems. However, this is not the only thing that sets this project apart.

Naturalness, locality and…the future

A distinctive feature of Medbase is its inclusion of natural medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal preparations. The platform offers a dedicated module that analyzes their efficacy, safety, and potential interactions with prescription drugs. In everyday clinical practice, this area is often overlooked, even though it has a real impact on the safety and effectiveness of treatment.

– If we want to talk about the real safety of pharmacotherapy, we cannot ignore the fact that patients combine different forms of treatment. Our task is to take this context into account in our risk analysis, rather than pretending that it does not exist. What is more, the same reasoning applies to other databases that comprehensively support all areas of pharmacotherapy safety based on the latest knowledge, explains Sławomir Kmak. 

The Healthtech of the Week team couldn’t help but ask about plans for the future. Medbase’s mentoring by IMiD and the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk opens a new stage of dialogue with the Polish healthcare system. As the founders emphasize, this is an opportunity to better understand the local needs of clinicians and further adapt the solution to market realities. 

The conclusions drawn from participation in the MCSC and the jury’s opinions confirmed the chosen direction of the project’s development and strengthened Medbase’s position as a substantive partner. Strategically, the company aims to become a tool supporting all pharmacotherapeutic decisions – both in Poland and in Europe, based on the experience gained in the Nordic markets, where Medbase already functions as part of the system infrastructure. Something tells us that this extremely interesting innovation will soon gain momentum with the forecasted trends in medtech for 2026. 

The interview is part of the The Healthtech of the Week series, produced by ComeCreationsGroup

 
 

Genetic variability affects outcomes of drug therapy

NEWSROOM

Genetic variability affects outcomes of drug therapy

Drug therapies do not always work as expected. In some patients, the efficacy of drugs remains non-existent, others experience adverse effects of various severities – life-threatening at worst. One of the factors affecting drug therapy is genetic variability. Understanding the role of genes has also sped up the development of genetic testing that supports successful drug therapy.

2.10.2024

Photo: Linda Tammisto, Helsinki University

Could genetic factors explain individual differences in the effects of medications? This was the question that Mikko Niemi began to examine on the basis of observations made while working on his doctoral thesis in the early 2000s.

“I wrote my thesis on the interactions of drugs used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. When measuring the drug concentrations, I noticed major individual differences between study participants also when there were no drug-drug interactions. This raised the question as to whether these differences could be caused by genetic factors”, explains Niemi.

“New pharmaceutical preparations are tested already at the development stage to spot hereditary pharmacokinetic differences. If differences are observed, a genetic test is recommended in the product leaflet”, explains Professor Mikko Niemi.

Inspired by this thought, Niemi started working as a post-doc researcher in a prestigious pharmacogenetic research institution in Germany. There, further studies carried out in co-operation with German partners confirmed Niemi’s assumption concerning the role of genes.

Around the same time, an international genome project led by American researchers managed to determine the basic structure of the human genome. This resulted in high expectations from the field and provided pharmacogenetic researchers with numerous opportunities. His own observations and the spirit of the times sealed pharmacogenetics as the primary interest for Niemi.

“I returned from Germany in 2004 and set up a research group at the University of Helsinki. After the quiet phase that followed the initial hype, the field is currently experiencing strong growth. We have been gathering quite a lot of scientific evidence on the benefits of pharmacogenetic testing”, says Niemi, currently employed as a Professor of Pharmacogenetics.

Genetic testing is rapidly becoming more common

Niemi, who is considered to be among the pioneers in the field both domestically and internationally, believes that genetic testing will become more common in the coming years as test methods develop and their cost-benefit ratio improves.

“We also need more research data on the effects of genes on different pharmaceutical agents. At the moment, over a hundred drugs are known to be significantly affected by genes”, says Niemi.

According to Niemi, genetic testing provides valuable information that can be used to improve drug therapy outcomes, prevent adverse effects and save money.

“For the moment, tests are not utilised in the treatment of every patient but it is likely, at some point, that we all will have our pharmacogenetic profile determined. This will facilitate and speed up the detection and initiation of a suitable drug therapy, which will bring many benefits.”

“Genetic testing makes it possible to plan individual medication, in other words, to select drugs and dosages that best suit the patient.”

Towards individual drug therapy

In Niemi’s opinion, genetics has an indisputable impact on the efficacy and safety of drug therapy. As an example, he mentions the effect of genes on cholesterol-lowering agents, statins, which are often prescribed to patients with high cholesterol levels to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

“In some patients, the efficacy of statins remains low and, in others, they cause adverse effects – usually muscle pain. Many discontinue their medication due to fairly mild pain, since the drug does not alleviate any current symptoms but, instead, is used minimise future risks.”

However, it is not wise to stop the medication as this will increase the risk of developing serious diseases and cause many unnecessary deaths. In other words, a failed drug therapy becomes expensive in many ways.

Niemi has been studying statins for a long time. Now is known that the reason behind the muscle pain that often leads to discontinuation of medication is often a genetic variation that prevents the drug from working as planned.

“Instead of avoiding drug therapy, patients suffering from adverse effects should discuss their symptoms with their doctor. It may be possible to find a more suitable medication through genetic testing.”

According to Niemi, who is one of the most referenced scientists in the field of pharmacogenetics, genetic testing provides considerable benefits also to many patients suffering from depression. Genetic testing makes it possible to plan individual medication, in other words, to select drugs and dosages that best suit the patient.

“The evidence behind the benefits of genetic testing is so strong that tests have been added to the Current Care Guidelines for depression. When genetic information is utilised in the selection of an antidepressant, the likelihood that a patient becomes free of symptoms is up to 40 per cent higher than without genetic testing.”

Towards routine utilisation of genetic information

With increasing data received from genetic testing, attention should also be paid to the availability of the data.

“The data must be integrated in electronic health records so that they are readily available for clinicians. It is not enough that genetic test results are listed along with other laboratory test results – we need an automated system that transfers the genetic data to be included as a routine part of drug therapy”, Niemi points out.

For example, when treating chronic patients who require several different drugs, the benefits of genetic testing would be cumulated rapidly. Niemi believes that routine utilisation of gene information will be common everyday practice within 5–10 years in this patient group – and, gradually, in others as well.

When a drug therapy succeeds as expected, it benefits both the individual and society. The sooner the right medication is found, the better the treatment response and the less adverse effects that put a strain on the patient and health care system. There are also financial impacts.

“In the future, gene databases integrated in patient information systems will be a key tool for physicians. They will make physicians’ work easier and help them to find drugs that are effective and cause less adverse effects to their patients”, says Niemi.

Learn more about Pgxbase – it serves as a resource for tailoring drug therapies to the unique genetic profile of a patient. 

 
 

Vaaka Partners to invest in Medbase

NEWSROOM

Vaaka Partners to invest in Medbase

Finland is exceptionally advanced in utilising user-friendly, high-quality drug information in everyday clinical work. This is largely due to Medbase and its partners, who provide critical information for healthcare professionals. Together with private equity company Vaaka Partners, Medbase aims to extend its unique expertise further into Europe.

1.8.2024

Kari Laine, Medbase and Ville Koskenvuo, Vaaka Partners

Strategic partnership

Vaaka Partners selected Medbase for its impressive scientific expertise and significant end-user impact. Medbase enhances clinical decision making by providing evidence-based, user-friendly drug information across all relevant areas of pharmacotherapy. As the leading Nordic provider of drug information, Medbase’s solutions are trusted by healthcare professionals in Finland and internationally for clinical drug therapy.

‘Medbase’s world-class databases help patients use fewer medications that are not right for them. It’s rewarding to bring this expertise globally, as many doctors still lack pragmatic tools to safeguard their prescribing in progressive countries. Medbase has the potential to improve patient care worldwide,’ says Ville Koskenvuo, partner at Vaaka Partners.

‘With Vaaka Partners’ expertise, we can expand our reach in Europe and continue improving clinical decision making,’ says Dr. Kari Laine, founder and Chief Medical Officer of Medbase. ‘We share the same vision and values with Vaaka, which has enabled us to build mutual trust,’ adds Dr. Laine.

Strong medical expertise

Following the investment, Medbase’s Board of Directors now includes:

  • Prof. Juha Tuominen (former CEO of Helsinki University Hospital HUS)
  • Katrin Wiemann (former General Manager of ifap, part of CompuGroup Medical)
  • Kari Lappalainen (CEO of Solutos)
  • Ville Koskenvuo (Partner at Vaaka Partners, founding investor and former Chairman of Blueprint Genetics)
  • Panu Vuorela (Partner at Vaaka Partners)

‘The drug information provided by Medbase is of high scientific quality and necessary for good clinical practice. I am motivated to support Medbase in launching new databases and enabling wider access to this seamless service across Europe,’ says Prof. Juha Tuominen, former CEO of HUS.

Future outlook

Unintended but predictable adverse drug reactions are a growing global issue, leading to increased mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs. The complexity of available treatment options necessitates decision support systems that guide and remind doctors of best treatment practices. Medbase’s extensive product portfolio offers much-needed assistance to clinical practitioners across Europe.

Learn more about Vaaka Partners here.