Satisfai Health acquires global license for AI software to detect early cancer in Barrett's Esophagus
Regensburg, Germany - The Canadian company Satisfai Health has acquired a worldwide exclusive license for AI software and training data for the detection of early esophageal cancer from the Ostbayerischen Technische Hochschule Regensburg (OTH Regensburg) and the University Hospital Augsburg (UKA). "I am glad that millions of patients all over the world will soon be able to benefit concretely from the results of our many years of research," says Dr. Christoph Palm, professor for medical image processing at the OTH Regensburg.
Palm and his team at the Regensburg Medical Image Computing (ReMIC) laboratory have been working together with Dr. Helmut Messmann, Professor of Gastroenterology at the University Hospital Augsburg and Acting President of the European Society for Endoscopy (ESGE) . Her research is considered a world leader when it comes to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine. More precisely: To differentiate a carcinoma from Barrett's esophagus, an inflammation of the lining of the esophagus, which is not infrequently a precursor of cancer.
The disease affects around one percent of the world's population
The AI developed in Regensburg using data from the UKA helps to recognize Barrett's syndrome or a carcinoma during an endoscopy in real time and gives doctors tips on how to optimally perform it in the event that an operation is necessary. This attracted international attention - and aroused the interest of Satisfai Health from Vancouver (Canada), according to their own statements, "a leading provider of medical solutions that specializes in AI applications for gastroenterology". After long negotiations, the company has acquired a worldwide exclusive license for the AI software developed by OTH Regensburg in cooperation with the Augsburg University Hospital. Satisfai Health wants to develop it further and is convinced that this will change the way we treat Barrett's esophagus. Worldwide, around one percent of the population is affected by the disease. The University Hospital Augsburg specializes in the diagnosis and endoscopic therapy of early cancer in the esophagus and stomach. Only recently they published the data of a German register in which more than 50 percent of early cancers in Germany are treated at the UKA. Thus, the UKA with the largest German endoscopy center was the ideal partner for the OTH Regensburg.
"AI will revolutionize endoscopy"
The licensing of AI-based software by Satisfai Health is intended to enable clinicians to diagnose endoscopic procedures more quickly and effectively. Diagnosis includes imaging and biopsies of the esophagus to check for precancerous cells (dysplasia) that can be treated to prevent esophageal cancer from developing. "AI will revolutionize endoscopy and our tool is the first step to improve and optimize the detection of Barrett's cancer", says Prof. Dr. Helmut Messmann. "I am very pleased that we are continuing our research in this area with Satisfai "And for Prof. Dr. Christoph Palm the focus is that" we did not work for the drawer, that the result of our research work is now being used in clinical practice ". "We are passionate about developing technologies that will help both doctors and patients," said Dr. Michael Byrne, CEO of Satisfai Health and clinical professor of medicine in Vancouver. "Our collaborations and partnerships are aimed at millions of patients to provide ideal care for various gastrointestinal diseases. "Dr. James East, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, emphasized:" Barrett is the next target for AI in endoscopy after the colon. The collaboration With the Messmann research group, we take a big step towards becoming a Barrett AI expert who is at our side in every endoscopy examination room. "
Award for PhD student Robert Mendel
Prof. Dr. Palm particularly emphasizes the team performance in the ReMIC laboratory: “Colleague Messmann and I have been working on the subject since 2014. Robert Mendel has the majority of the currently developed AI. Alanna Ebigbo from the University Hospital Augsburg has been awarded the renowned endoscopy research prize of the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases ”.
