Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Ai-Brainscience Inc. signed an exclusive sales agreement for Japan that will see Otsuka market Ai-Brainscience’s eye-tracking application to test for cognitive function. The eye-tracking app, AiBS-01, could become the first dementia diagnosis application to receive regulatory approval in Japan. Ibaraki, Japan-based Ai-Brainscience (AiBS) is developing devices that use the eye-tracking based cognitive assessment test to detect early dementia beyond the conventional assessment methods performed by specialists.
The transformation of cardiology continues with two U.S. FDA actions to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI): a 510(k) clearance for Rapidai Inc.’s pulmonary embolism (PE) triage and notification product and breakthrough device designation for Anumana Inc.’s pulmonary hypertension (PH) early detection algorithm.
The European Commission (EC) has proposed new legislation directed toward formation of a European Health Data Space (EHDS), which is nominally intended to address some perceived gaps in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While this legislative proposal seems to interact with both the GDPR and pending EU legislation on artificial intelligence, the EHDS takes on the massive challenge of compulsory interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs). The EC unveiled the proposal with an emphasis on health data accessibility, although both the European Council and the European Parliament will now have their say over how the legislation will ultimately read.
Beacon Biosignals Inc. has teamed up with Stratus Inc., a provider of electroencephalogram (EEG) services, to improve at-home brain monitoring and neurodiagnostics using Beacon’s machine learning-driven neuroanalytics platform. The collaboration will increase opportunities for home-based studies of Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.
Pharma and tech companies including Amazon Inc., Astrazeneca plc, Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co. Inc. and Teva Inc. are partnering with an innovation lab based in Israel to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) driven antibody discovery. Rehovot, Israel-based Aion Labs recently launched a venture hub for innovators and scientists from around the world.
The short-term future is a little clearer for Israeli precision oncology startup Oncohost Ltd. now that it has closed a $35 million series C fundraising round. The new infusion more than doubled the previous amount raised, bringing total investment to more than $50 million. The company plans to use the funds to expand its PROPHETIC trial of the company’s machine learning-based host response profiling platform, Prophet, to additional locations worldwide and new indications.
Nano-x Imaging Ltd.’s (Nanox) subsidiary Nanox.AI has received the FDA’s 510(k) clearance for Healthost, an artificial intelligence (AI) software device providing qualitative and quantitative analysis of the spine from CT scans.
Computational disease modeling company Cytoreason Ltd. is expanding its reach into Asia with a recent partnership with South Korean big data company Helixrus Inc., which is focused on biological big data and multiomics. The alliance will focus on leveraging Helixrus’ deep knowledge of the South Korean pharmaceutical market, and extensive network of relationships in Asian markets, to highlight Cytoreason’s capabilities in prioritizing new targets, finding biomarkers, profiling combinations, stratifying patients and other use cases within the drug lifecycle.
Isono Health Inc. received FDA clearance for its Automated Three-dimensional Ultrasound with Artificial intelligence (ATUSA) system for breast imaging, a wearable, compact automated whole breast ultrasound system that can acquire high-quality images without requiring a skilled operator. The ultrasound scan takes two minutes to scan the entire breast volume and offers 3D visualization of the breast tissue.
Canada’s federally-funded Digital Technology Supercluster is joining with industry to invest CA$17.8 million (US$13.9 million) in an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies program to advance personalized treatment for patients with cancer.