Novartis’ main products for cardiovascular disease are prescription drugs for symptoms. Heart problems, however, can appear years before symptoms appear, and the pharma giant hopes to find new ways to treat these conditions.One new partnership Aims to develop artificial intelligence-based software to detect hidden cardiovascular disease.
In collaboration with Anumana, the company develops algorithms for electrocardiography (ECG). The agreement calls for Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Anumana to develop algorithms that can be applied to patients with previously undetected life-threatening heart conditions. The algorithms are designed to help identify these problems so doctors can intervene more quickly.
“Cardiovascular disease is a widespread, multifactorial disease, and to mitigate its impact, we must move beyond therapeutic innovation and reimagine how we approach cardiovascular disease,” said Victor Bulto, president of Novartis Innovative Medicines US, in a prepared statement. . “Novartis is proud to partner with Anumana to develop innovative and data-driven solutions to better predict the risk of life-threatening heart disease, furthering our commitment to improving the patient experience and population health outcomes for this patient population.”
Financial terms of the multi-year partnership were not disclosed.
Founded by Mayo Clinic and Nference, Anumana uses unstructured electronic medical record data from medical centers to develop new diagnostics and treatments. The Anumana joint venture builds on an existing partnership between Mayo Clinic and Nference.them Launched the startup last year with a $25.7 million Series A round. Anumana says it has closed one $60 million in Series B financing funds.
The Novartis collaboration could make the ECG, a widely available and inexpensive test, a rich source of information for cardiovascular analysis. Anumana said the consortium builds on its own development of artificial intelligence-enabled software that can detect electrocardiogram signals that humans cannot interpret. The new partnership focuses on developing software that can detect previously undiagnosed left ventricular dysfunction, also known as weak heart pump. This condition can lead to heart failure.
Additionally, Anumana said AI will screen for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. The research includes developing digital point-of-care solutions that can guide medication use. The goal is to reduce the risk of hospitalization and cardiovascular death. In collaboration with Novartis, Anumana will work with experts from the Mayo Clinic.
“This collaboration has the potential to transform the use of the ubiquitous, inexpensive test, the electrocardiogram, with the goal of democratizing disease detection and helping medical teams proactively manage heart disease early and prevent some clinical events,” said Dr. Mayo Clinic Cardiology Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Paul Friedman, director and chair of the Mayo Clinic Advisory Board at Anumana, said in a prepared statement.
