RetinAI announces a collaboration with Novartis to provide AI tools for ophthalmology research

RetinAI has announced a multi-year collaboration with Novartis Pharma to deploy RetinAI’s IT solutions and artificial intelligence tools to support multiple projects in ophthalmology and digital health.

The first project will support a multi-centre international clinical study involving patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The study is designed to investigate the influence of optical coherence tomography (OCT) image solutions using Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the assessment of disease activity. The study will be conducted in several clinical centres in numerous European countries and Canada, involving more than 500 patients. Both companies have previously worked successfully on pilot projects in this disease area.

Dirk Sauer, global development head of the ophthalmology franchise at Novartis Pharma, sees RetinAI as a strategic partner for advancing eye care through digital innovation: ‘With previous projects, RetinAI’s services have enabled us to enhance and more efficiently structure retina scans and data collected from our clinical studies. Together with RetinAI, we are working on end-to-end solutions to generate swift and comprehensive disease insights to better treat patients and improve patient outcomes.’

For this study, RetinAI will provide its CE-marked web-based software platform, RetinAI Discovery, a data management platform to efficiently process data at scale across imaging platforms and devices. Discovery is used today by professionals to navigate imaging data, compute imaging biomarkers and track changes over time for some of the most common forms of eye diseases. RetinAI’s tools also support diagnostic analyses and clinical workflows as well as patient monitoring & adherence to treatment.

Dr Carlos Ciller, CEO of RetinAI, commented: ‘RetinAI is excited to expand and intensify our partnership with Novartis who is one of the top pharma companies in ophthalmology with deep competence, dedication and focus on digital innovation in eye care. We clearly see the value that RetinAI can bring to Novartis. Our Discovery platform and AI tools are enablers to increase efficiency in research and clinical studies and we expect they can also improve medications and treatments for patients. We believe using RetinAI’s technologies to support patients treated with ophthalmic medications will provide enhanced disease insights and create opportunities for more precise treatments.’

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