Waycen, an AI MEDTECH company, signed a strategic business agreement with JK Partners, a Vietnamese business consulting company, on the 24th.
This agreement aims to enter the Vietnamese medical market with Waycen's AI gastrointestinal endoscope "WAYMED endo."
JK Partners is a specialized company that consults Korean companies' entry and investment into the Vietnamese business at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kocham) in Vietnam. Discussions are underway to introduce WAYMED endo to some major hospitals in Vietnam.
The pilot operation will begin as early as the first half of the year.
WAYMED endo analyzes endoscopic images in real time and detects abnormal lesions while performing endoscopic examinations, and can be used immediately, being compatible with existing endoscopic facilities. It is also the only AI gastrointestinal endoscope in Korea that has both gastric and colon lineup and each has been certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for second-class medical devices, respectively.
Vietnam is an attractive market for medical device companies in that it relies on imports for about 90% of the medical device market and produces domestic products limited to basic ones.
A company official explained, "Vietnam lacks relatively skilled professional medical staff, and WAYMED endo will be highly competitive in the Vietnamese market as medical devices using artificial intelligence technology because it can contribute to upgrade medical quality."
AI MEDTECH company Waycen announced on the 7th that a paper proving the effectiveness of artificial intelligence to predict the metastasis of lung cancer was published in the SCIE international journal, Translational Lung Cancer Research (hereinafter referred to as TLCR).
This study was conducted in collaboration with a research team led by Professor Kim Eun-young and Yong Seung-hyun of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Severance Hospital. It was conducted to develop and check accuracy of an artificial intelligence algorithm that reads bronchoscopy ultrasound images of lung cancer patients in real time to find malignant lymph nodes where lung cancer has spread.
The artificial intelligence algorithm developed through the study was evaluated based on 2,394 bronchoscopy ultrasound images, and the encouraging performance of AUC 0.8 was confirmed for the detection of malignant lymph nodes. It was found to exhibit superior performance than that of the existing academia. As a result, the possibility of automatic reading of bronchoscopy ultrasound images using artificial intelligence technology has been confirmed.
In this study, Waycen was in charge of developing an artificial intelligence algorithm that analyzes bronchoscopy ultrasound images in real time to determine whether lung cancer has metastasis to lymph nodes. It was developed as an artificial intelligence algorithm that can be analyzed 1.5 times faster and more accurately than the existing CNN structure. This is an artificial intelligence technology that can analyze images in real time lighter and faster than existing ones, and based on this, the technology is considered to be a more suitable algorithm for the actual clinical environment and will be of practical help to domestic and foreign medical staff.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a standard method of endobronchial lymph node biopsy to check for metastasis in lung cancer patients, but it requires a lot of time, effort, and is heavily dependent on the subjective analysis and personal experience. This study is expected to be another useful example of artificial intelligence algorithms applicable to clinical sites in that a new technology which accurately select lymph nodes that require biopsy by objectively and comprehensively evaluating lung cancer metastasis has been developed.
Professor Kim Eun-young of Severance Hospital, the writer of corresponding paper, said, "Through this artificial intelligence algorithm, malignant lymph nodes that require biopsy during bronchoscopy ultrasound surgery can be selected in real time. Thus, it can contribute to the safer environment for patients by improving the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis and shortening the test time."
"This study was a good opportunity to check the performance of Waycen's artificial intelligence self-lightening technology and research using our patented technology," said Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Waycen. "We will focus on research to develop the technological competitiveness of Waycen's artificial intelligence algorithm."
Meanwhile, TLCR is a world-class academic journal with an impact factor of 6.498 as of 2021, which indicates the quality level of papers, and is recognized for its authority in the field of lung cancer-related medicine.
페이스북(으)로 기사보내기 트위터(으)로 기사보내기 카카오스토리(으)로 기사보내기 카카오톡(으)로 기사보내기 네이버밴드(으)로 기사보내기 네이버블로그(으)로 기사보내기 다른 공유 찾기 기사스크랩하기
AI MEDTECH company Waycen Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Kyung-nam) has AI software for endoscopic image analysis from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
It was announced on the 17th that it has obtained second-class medical device certification for "WAYMED endo." WAYMED endo (WAYMED endo ST and WAYMED endo CL) is a medical image analysis software that uses artificial intelligence technology to analyze endoscopic images in real time at the same time as stomach/colorectal endoscopy. It is an AI medical image analysis software that is used in conjunction with existing gastrointestinal endoscopy equipment, and artificial intelligence analyzes endoscopic images in real time to detect abnormal areas (rise or depression patterns) and displays areas.
Until now, only products that detect abnormalities in still images stored in PACS have been released as software that analyzes endoscopic images. However, "WAYMED endo" has accurate and fast detection performance for abnormal areas in real time, helping medical staff make quick judgments in endoscopy rooms and reducing fatigue accumulated through endoscopy, so it can be actively used in hospitals and examination centers where endoscopic examinations are concentrated. It can also help reduce the missed rate of endoscopy by medical staff and shorten the time for endoscopy.
WAYMED Endo is a product developed through a joint study with Waycen, an artificial intelligence company, and a research team led by Professor Kim Ji-hyun of the Department of Gastroenterology at Gangnam Severance Hospital. Experts from each field gathered to develop technologies necessary for the medical environment, and the product was completed through technical verification so that they could be actively used in the medical field.
Waycen CEO Kim Kyung-nam said, "WAYMED Endo has excellent performance by learning not only stationary images but also real-time videos using artificial intelligence technology, and this is the product that is considered to be the biggest strength." Starting with the first license obtained this time, we would like to create a new medical innovation in the domestic endoscopy market," he said, expressing his strong ambition.
Meanwhile, starting with the acquisition of the "WAYMED endo" license, it plans to start commercialization as a target for hospitals and examination centers in earnest. It will be introduced for the first time through 'KIMES 2022', an international medical device exhibition held at COEX in March.
AI endoscopic image analysis software, developed through years of joint research with Professor Kim Ji-hyun's research team, a gastroenterologist at Gangnam Severance Hospital...Received industry's First Innovation Award in Health/Wellness at CES 2022
AI endoscopic image analysis software "WAYMED Endo," developed by Waycen (CEO Kim Kyung-nam), an artificial intelligence (AI) Meditech company, won the Health/Wellness Innovation Award at CES 2022 for the first time in the industry.
This is the first time that AI endoscopic image analysis software has been selected at the CES Innovation Award. Waycen achieved the feat of winning the award, which has not been received by global medical companies, three years after its establishment.
WAYMEDendo is an endoscopic image analysis software based on artificial intelligence. While performing endoscopy in the endoscopy room, artificial intelligence detects abnormal areas (rise or depression) in real time, and medical staff can immediately check the abnormal areas at the endoscopy room site.
Users received the award in recognition of their innovation in that they can detect abnormalities in digestive health early thanks to WAYMED Endo noticing abnormal areas.
In addition, WAYMED Endo can be provided even in the cloud and standalone, so it can be used in medical developing countries.
This can reduce the health care gap due to medical technology deviations, and it was highly praised for contributing to the international medical development by early detection and treatment of abnormalities in the stomach/colorectal of more people through medical AI technology.
Waycen CEO Kim Kyung-nam said, "WAYMED ENDO is a product that has been developed for global market from the planning stage. "I think this award is a very positive sign of the global advancement of AI endoscopic image analysis SW 'WAYMED endo', and I will do my best to become a product that is recognized not only in Korea but also abroad," he said.
Meanwhile, WAYMED Endo is a product developed through years of joint research with Professor Kim Ji-hyun's research team, a gastroenterologist at Gangnam Severance Hospital. It has significant meaning in the medical industry that medical experts and artificial intelligence companies collaborated to develop clinically useful products along with technical verification and achieved such excellent results.
Cancer is complex. It can be triggered by many factors, be driven by a myriad of genetic mutations, and change over time. Clinicians need to be able to provide precise diagnoses, identify the best treatment option available, monitor disease progression, and determine prognosis.
To this end, next-generation sequencing is often used to analyse millions of DNA fragments in tumour biopsies to precisely determine a cancer’s genetic profile. “But obtaining tissue biopsies is not always possible or even necessarily helpful,” explains medical oncologist Jae-yong Cho, general director of Yonsei University’s Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital in Seoul, South Korea.
For example, some cancer patients develop metastases whose profiles differ from the original mass depending on the organ in which they occur. Also, tumours are not uniform: a biopsy from one area of a tumour will not reflect what is happening in the whole tumour or how it is changing.
Cho and his colleagues at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital, together with collaborators in industry, are now developing time- and cost-effective approaches to obtain more regular and complete genetic profiling snapshots from cancer patients. Their approaches involve extracting genetic content from liquid samples (such as blood or the fluid around the lungs), amplifying it, analysing it and comparing it with the latest data in the literature using artificial intelligence.
Extracting data from CNA
Specifically, Cho’s team is interested in circulating nucleic acids (CNAs) — DNA circulating in the bloodstream. When cells die they release nucleic-acid fragments called cell-free DNA into the bloodstream. Normally, immune cells called macrophages clean them up, but macrophages can’t keep up with their overproduction by tumours, so more cell-free DNA remains. Researchers, including those at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital, have been evaluating the efficacy of various technologies for analysing liquid samples for a fraction of cell-free DNA that originates from tumours, known as circulating tumour DNA.
Sometimes only tiny amounts of circulating tumour DNA are present, making it difficult to detect. Cho’s team has been exploring various approaches for amplifying cell-free DNA to improve the detection of circulating tumour DNA. They are also assessing the merits of extracting cancer gene data from another type of CNA called exosomes — vesicles that transport genetic information and proteins between cells, making them especially enriched in DNA. Growing evidence suggests that exosomes are associated with tumour development and metastasis, making them attractive candidates for cancer mutation testing.
Cho and his colleagues used various methods to amplify cell-free and exosomal genetic material extracted from the liquid biopsies of people with non-small-cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer is sometimes caused by mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, warranting chemotherapy with drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. But the EGFR gene often develops other mutations over time that confer resistance to these drugs. Being able to spot the development of this mutation is important for adjusting ongoing treatment regimens.
Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital researchers found amplification approaches were more sensitive for detecting the chemotherapy-resistant mutation in plasma samples when they analysed both cell-free DNA and the total nucleic acid in the exosomes. On the other hand, exosomal total nucleic acid alone could be used for analyses when extracted from the fluid around the patients’ lungs, because it was enriched in the mutations.
The researchers were also able to use cell-free DNA analyses to identify a rare EGFR-related mutation in an advanced gastric cancer patient who was not responding to treatment. Cho and his colleagues suggest EGFR-targeting therapies could be used to treat such cases.
Bring on artificial intelligence
Extracting mutated genetic material from cancer patients is not the only challenge faced by clinicians. “I used to take quite a bit of time to sift through databases to find meaningful information on the mutations identified in a patient’s next-generation-sequencing result,” says Cho.
To address this, Cho and his colleagues worked with Korean medtech company Waycen to develop Waymed Gene. This software uses artificial intelligence to sift through the literature, curate a database, and then search through this and another manually curated database to provide clinicians with the latest information on the detected mutations. “Waymed Gene provides a dashboard that can be used to check gene mutation information from the relevant clinical and thesis data at a glance,” says Cho. “It helps me find the right drug or clinical trial for patients.”
The Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital team is also using the technology in Waymed Gene to discover new targets for anti-cancer drugs and to find molecules that can be used as drugs. They are currently using the software to look for molecules that can target mutations in the KRAS gene found in some types of cancer, including pancreatic, colorectal and non-small-cell lung cancer.
The research at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital on detecting circulating cancer mutations in liquid biopsies, and the use of state-of-the-art artificial-intelligence technology for providing up-to-date mutation information promises further advances for personalized cancer treatments.
The development of artificial intelligence (AI) medical services based on data from patients with chronic diseases will be promoted.
Waycen, a medical AI company, announced on the 15th that it signed an agreement (MOU) with Gangbuk Samsung Hospital for joint research on artificial intelligence (AI) for patients with chronic diseases.
The two institutions plan to jointly research and develop and verify artificial intelligence technology using data from patients with chronic diseases. Gangbuk Samsung Hospital provides various big data accumulated through mobile healthcare services for patients with chronic diseases, and Waycen developed a clustering and predictive factor analysis model for patients with chronic diseases based on machine learning to research medical AI technology for establishing customized care plans for each patient.
Through this agreement, the two organizations expected to realize both high-quality medical services and reduced work-load of medical staff by developing medical AI technology that can efficiently monitor patients with chronic diseases and present customized candidate care plans for each patient.
Based on the artificial intelligence-based patient/data management analysis platform "Health Aid," Waycen plans to automatically collect environmental information that can affect chronic diseases and analyze 80 indicators of patients through machine learning to develop medical AI technology that suggests the customized treatment programs.
AI-based precision medical platform 'WAYMED' is highly evaluated for its technology and growth potential.
[Medical Newspaper, Daily Insurance = Reporter Oh In-gyu] Waycen (CEO Kim Kyung-nam), a medical AI company, announced on the 13th that it was finally selected for the "Microsoft For Startup" hosted by Microsoft, a global company.
The "Microsoft For Startup" is a program that discovers promising domestic startups with technology and actively supports investments and entry to overseas markets for tech-based startups such as AI, machine learning, and big data. It provides Azure credit worth up to 130 million won to selected companies, supports Microsoft's customers and partners in product sales, marketing, and the opportunity to meet with global VCs.
Waycen was highly praised for its technology and growth potential of AI-based precision medical platform WAYMED, and participated at the recommendation of Storm Ventures in the U.S. Storm Ventures is an investor with more than 1,000 start-up investment experiences, and is also known as an eye-catching investor in Silicon Valley, ranking at the top of the investment success rate.
Waycen plans to pave the way for its advancement to a global medical platform through the selection of this program. It plans to build a cloud-based precision AI platform and secure a platform base and increase company value by utilizing opportunities to invest in global VCs.
Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Waycen, said, "Waycen's business portfolio is aimed at global beyond Korea. By clouding both precision medical and DTx businesses, we will not just promote our technology to the world but plan to push ahead with research projects so that we can move forward with valuable Medtech technologies in medical environments around the world." he said.
Jang Hong-guk, head of Microsoft Korea's global partner solution division, said, "We are happy to be with Waycen, a promising company in the medical AI field, and we hope Microsoft's support will help Waycen grow and enter the global market, and Microsoft will continue to provide active support to revitalize the domestic startup ecosystem."
Meanwhile, Waycen signed a joint research agreement on AI-based medical big data utilization technology with Gangnam Severance Hospital and KAIST in April, and succeeded in attracting Series A investment in recognition of its excellent technology competitiveness based on more than 30 AI medical patents.
[Artificial Intelligence Newspaper reporter Jeon Mi-joon] Waycen (CEO Kim Kyung-nam), a medical AI company, announced on the 26th that it was finally selected as a "Baby Unicorn" company authorized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Startup Promotion Agency.
The 200 Baby Unicorn Promotion Project, selected by Waycen, is the first step of the government's K-Unicorn Project to become one of the four major venture powers, and aims to discover promising start-ups with innovative business models and growth potential and foster them as global competitive prospective unicorn companies (100 billion corporate value).
The finally selected companies can receive up to 5 billion won in preferential support for technology guarantees and up to 10 billion won in policy funds which includes up to 300 million won in market development funds for exploring and discovering new markets.
Waycen was highly praised for its competitiveness in artificial intelligence-based precision medical technology in this development project. The top experts, evaluation teams, and the public review team evaluated that Waycen's technology has sufficient competitive advantage in the medical market and finally selected it as a baby unicorn in recognition of its growth potential in the global market.
Waycen was selected as a high-growth SW company certified by the Ministry of Science and ICT in March last year, and was selected as a TIPS start-up team organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
It has been firmly established as a medical AI company in the medical industry by receiving orders for various tasks organized by Korea's leading university hospitals, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In recognition of its high growth potential as a medical AI company based on technology certification in each government department and excellent partnerships with university hospitals, it succeeded in attracting a total of 3 billion won in Series A investment from four venture capitals such as Samho Green Investment, ID Ventures, T Investment, and Creative Investment Advisory in February.
We are happy to be recognized for Waycen's technology and value for corporate growth, said Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Waycen. "We will continue to research and develop artificial intelligence technology that is used in the precise medical field, and we will try to be the first unicorn company from the artificial intelligence medical domain."
Meanwhile, Waycen has developed an artificial intelligence-based cancer cycle precision medical platform "WAYMED" and is promoting various research and projects for precision medical artificial intelligence technology optimized for the medical environment.
[Medipana News = Reporter Park Sun-hye] Waycen (Kim Kyung-nam), a medical artificial intelligence company, announced that it has won a "brain disease overcoming R&D project" organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and started research on "digital therapy (DTx) this month.
The task is an integrated study to improve the diagnosis of emotional disorders, one of the core brain diseases, especially anxiety disorders, and will be conducted with a scale of 4.5 billion won over five years.
Yonsei University's Industry-Academic Cooperation Group organized the consortium with the participation of ▲ Waycen, ▲ Gangnam Severance, ▲ Severance Hospital, ▲ Bundang Cha Hospital, ▲ Cha University, and ▲KAIST.
The consortium plans to develop an artificial intelligence-based anxiety diagnosis and treatment prediction model through extended phenotype big data analysis such as multiple omics, brain imaging, and digital phenotype related to anxiety disorders.
With the artificial intelligence-based patient/data management analysis platform "Health Aid" and IoT sensors, Waycen plans to build a digital phenotype by collecting environmental information and patient's various digital behavior pattern data that can affect anxiety disorders. In addition, based on this, it was decided to develop and commercialize a digital treatment that can treat and manage anxiety disorders customized for each patient.
Through this task, Waycen will expand its research area to digital treatments as well as precision medicine. It plans to develop a differentiated digital treatment platform based on a number of medical artificial intelligence R&D know-how.
CEO Kim Kyung-nam said, "Waycen is significant in that it participates as the only private company in the consortium and is in charge of artificial intelligence research and business in the digital therapeutics sector. Digital therapies require rapid research and commercialization in that they can generate high therapeutic synergy." He continued, "It's not just about researching digital treatments, but about the medical environment in the future." "We will create a platform that is useful and necessary for many patients," he said.
Meanwhile, Waycen is a medical AI company that has developed precise artificial intelligence-based cancer cycle medical platform "WAYMED" and is promoting various research and projects for precision medical artificial intelligence technology optimized for the medical environment.
Waycen, an AI MEDTECH company, signed a strategic business agreement with JK Partners, a Vietnamese business consulting company, on the 24th.
This agreement aims to enter the Vietnamese medical market with Waycen's AI gastrointestinal endoscope "WAYMED endo."
JK Partners is a specialized company that consults Korean companies' entry and investment into the Vietnamese business at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kocham) in Vietnam. Discussions are underway to introduce WAYMED endo to some major hospitals in Vietnam.
The pilot operation will begin as early as the first half of the year.
WAYMED endo analyzes endoscopic images in real time and detects abnormal lesions while performing endoscopic examinations, and can be used immediately, being compatible with existing endoscopic facilities.
It is also the only AI gastrointestinal endoscope in Korea that has both gastric and colon lineup and each has been certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for second-class medical devices, respectively.
Vietnam is an attractive market for medical device companies in that it relies on imports for about 90% of the medical device market and produces domestic products limited to basic ones.
A company official explained, "Vietnam lacks relatively skilled professional medical staff, and WAYMED endo will be highly competitive in the Vietnamese market as medical devices using artificial intelligence technology because it can contribute to upgrade medical quality."
Source: 한국경제
AI MEDTECH company Waycen announced on the 7th that a paper proving the effectiveness of artificial intelligence to predict the metastasis of lung cancer was published in the SCIE international journal, Translational Lung Cancer Research (hereinafter referred to as TLCR).
This study was conducted in collaboration with a research team led by Professor Kim Eun-young and Yong Seung-hyun of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Severance Hospital. It was conducted to develop and check accuracy of an artificial intelligence algorithm that reads bronchoscopy ultrasound images of lung cancer patients in real time to find malignant lymph nodes where lung cancer has spread.
The artificial intelligence algorithm developed through the study was evaluated based on 2,394 bronchoscopy ultrasound images, and the encouraging performance of AUC 0.8 was confirmed for the detection of malignant lymph nodes. It was found to exhibit superior performance than that of the existing academia. As a result, the possibility of automatic reading of bronchoscopy ultrasound images using artificial intelligence technology has been confirmed.
In this study, Waycen was in charge of developing an artificial intelligence algorithm that analyzes bronchoscopy ultrasound images in real time to determine whether lung cancer has metastasis to lymph nodes. It was developed as an artificial intelligence algorithm that can be analyzed 1.5 times faster and more accurately than the existing CNN structure. This is an artificial intelligence technology that can analyze images in real time lighter and faster than existing ones, and based on this, the technology is considered to be a more suitable algorithm for the actual clinical environment and will be of practical help to domestic and foreign medical staff.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a standard method of endobronchial lymph node biopsy to check for metastasis in lung cancer patients, but it requires a lot of time, effort, and is heavily dependent on the subjective analysis and personal experience. This study is expected to be another useful example of artificial intelligence algorithms applicable to clinical sites in that a new technology which accurately select lymph nodes that require biopsy by objectively and comprehensively evaluating lung cancer metastasis has been developed.
Professor Kim Eun-young of Severance Hospital, the writer of corresponding paper, said, "Through this artificial intelligence algorithm, malignant lymph nodes that require biopsy during bronchoscopy ultrasound surgery can be selected in real time. Thus, it can contribute to the safer environment for patients by improving the accuracy of lung cancer diagnosis and shortening the test time."
"This study was a good opportunity to check the performance of Waycen's artificial intelligence self-lightening technology and research using our patented technology," said Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Waycen. "We will focus on research to develop the technological competitiveness of Waycen's artificial intelligence algorithm."
Meanwhile, TLCR is a world-class academic journal with an impact factor of 6.498 as of 2021, which indicates the quality level of papers, and is recognized for its authority in the field of lung cancer-related medicine.
Source: https://mdtoday.co.kr/news/view/1065570235747531
SNS 기사보내기
페이스북(으)로 기사보내기 트위터(으)로 기사보내기 카카오스토리(으)로 기사보내기 카카오톡(으)로 기사보내기 네이버밴드(으)로 기사보내기 네이버블로그(으)로 기사보내기 다른 공유 찾기 기사스크랩하기AI MEDTECH company Waycen Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Kyung-nam) has AI software for endoscopic image analysis from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
It was announced on the 17th that it has obtained second-class medical device certification for "WAYMED endo."
WAYMED endo (WAYMED endo ST and WAYMED endo CL) is a medical image analysis software that uses artificial intelligence technology to analyze endoscopic images in real time at the same time as stomach/colorectal endoscopy. It is an AI medical image analysis software that is used in conjunction with existing gastrointestinal endoscopy equipment, and artificial intelligence analyzes endoscopic images in real time to detect abnormal areas (rise or depression patterns) and displays areas.
Until now, only products that detect abnormalities in still images stored in PACS have been released as software that analyzes endoscopic images. However, "WAYMED endo" has accurate and fast detection performance for abnormal areas in real time, helping medical staff make quick judgments in endoscopy rooms and reducing fatigue accumulated through endoscopy, so it can be actively used in hospitals and examination centers where endoscopic examinations are concentrated. It can also help reduce the missed rate of endoscopy by medical staff and shorten the time for endoscopy.
WAYMED Endo is a product developed through a joint study with Waycen, an artificial intelligence company, and a research team led by Professor Kim Ji-hyun of the Department of Gastroenterology at Gangnam Severance Hospital. Experts from each field gathered to develop technologies necessary for the medical environment, and the product was completed through technical verification so that they could be actively used in the medical field.
Waycen CEO Kim Kyung-nam said, "WAYMED Endo has excellent performance by learning not only stationary images but also real-time videos using artificial intelligence technology, and this is the product that is considered to be the biggest strength." Starting with the first license obtained this time, we would like to create a new medical innovation in the domestic endoscopy market," he said, expressing his strong ambition.
Meanwhile, starting with the acquisition of the "WAYMED endo" license, it plans to start commercialization as a target for hospitals and examination centers in earnest. It will be introduced for the first time through 'KIMES 2022', an international medical device exhibition held at COEX in March.
Source: https://www.getnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=568836
AI endoscopic image analysis software, developed through years of joint research with Professor Kim Ji-hyun's research team, a gastroenterologist at Gangnam Severance Hospital...Received industry's First Innovation Award in Health/Wellness at CES 2022
AI endoscopic image analysis software "WAYMED Endo," developed by Waycen (CEO Kim Kyung-nam), an artificial intelligence (AI) Meditech company, won the Health/Wellness Innovation Award at CES 2022 for the first time in the industry.
This is the first time that AI endoscopic image analysis software has been selected at the CES Innovation Award. Waycen achieved the feat of winning the award, which has not been received by global medical companies, three years after its establishment.
WAYMEDendo is an endoscopic image analysis software based on artificial intelligence. While performing endoscopy in the endoscopy room, artificial intelligence detects abnormal areas (rise or depression) in real time, and medical staff can immediately check the abnormal areas at the endoscopy room site.
Users received the award in recognition of their innovation in that they can detect abnormalities in digestive health early thanks to WAYMED Endo noticing abnormal areas.
In addition, WAYMED Endo can be provided even in the cloud and standalone, so it can be used in medical developing countries.
This can reduce the health care gap due to medical technology deviations, and it was highly praised for contributing to the international medical development by early detection and treatment of abnormalities in the stomach/colorectal of more people through medical AI technology.
Waycen CEO Kim Kyung-nam said, "WAYMED ENDO is a product that has been developed for global market from the planning stage. "I think this award is a very positive sign of the global advancement of AI endoscopic image analysis SW 'WAYMED endo', and I will do my best to become a product that is recognized not only in Korea but also abroad," he said.
Meanwhile, WAYMED Endo is a product developed through years of joint research with Professor Kim Ji-hyun's research team, a gastroenterologist at Gangnam Severance Hospital. It has significant meaning in the medical industry that medical experts and artificial intelligence companies collaborated to develop clinically useful products along with technical verification and achieved such excellent results.
Source : 인공지능신문(http://www.aitimes.kr)
Advancing personalized cancer medicine
Produced by
A team at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital is using various ways to amplify cell-free DNA.© Gangnam Severance Hospital
Cancer is complex. It can be triggered by many factors, be driven by a myriad of genetic mutations, and change over time. Clinicians need to be able to provide precise diagnoses, identify the best treatment option available, monitor disease progression, and determine prognosis.
To this end, next-generation sequencing is often used to analyse millions of DNA fragments in tumour biopsies to precisely determine a cancer’s genetic profile. “But obtaining tissue biopsies is not always possible or even necessarily helpful,” explains medical oncologist Jae-yong Cho, general director of Yonsei University’s Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital in Seoul, South Korea.
For example, some cancer patients develop metastases whose profiles differ from the original mass depending on the organ in which they occur. Also, tumours are not uniform: a biopsy from one area of a tumour will not reflect what is happening in the whole tumour or how it is changing.
Cho and his colleagues at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital, together with collaborators in industry, are now developing time- and cost-effective approaches to obtain more regular and complete genetic profiling snapshots from cancer patients. Their approaches involve extracting genetic content from liquid samples (such as blood or the fluid around the lungs), amplifying it, analysing it and comparing it with the latest data in the literature using artificial intelligence.
Extracting data from CNA
Specifically, Cho’s team is interested in circulating nucleic acids (CNAs) — DNA circulating in the bloodstream. When cells die they release nucleic-acid fragments called cell-free DNA into the bloodstream. Normally, immune cells called macrophages clean them up, but macrophages can’t keep up with their overproduction by tumours, so more cell-free DNA remains. Researchers, including those at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital, have been evaluating the efficacy of various technologies for analysing liquid samples for a fraction of cell-free DNA that originates from tumours, known as circulating tumour DNA.
Sometimes only tiny amounts of circulating tumour DNA are present, making it difficult to detect. Cho’s team has been exploring various approaches for amplifying cell-free DNA to improve the detection of circulating tumour DNA. They are also assessing the merits of extracting cancer gene data from another type of CNA called exosomes — vesicles that transport genetic information and proteins between cells, making them especially enriched in DNA. Growing evidence suggests that exosomes are associated with tumour development and metastasis, making them attractive candidates for cancer mutation testing.
A point mutation in DNA. DNA from tumours containing such point mutations can be detected in the bloodstream.© ALFRED PASIEKA/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
Cho and his colleagues used various methods to amplify cell-free and exosomal genetic material extracted from the liquid biopsies of people with non-small-cell lung cancer. This type of lung cancer is sometimes caused by mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, warranting chemotherapy with drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. But the EGFR gene often develops other mutations over time that confer resistance to these drugs. Being able to spot the development of this mutation is important for adjusting ongoing treatment regimens.
Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital researchers found amplification approaches were more sensitive for detecting the chemotherapy-resistant mutation in plasma samples when they analysed both cell-free DNA and the total nucleic acid in the exosomes. On the other hand, exosomal total nucleic acid alone could be used for analyses when extracted from the fluid around the patients’ lungs, because it was enriched in the mutations.
The researchers were also able to use cell-free DNA analyses to identify a rare EGFR-related mutation in an advanced gastric cancer patient who was not responding to treatment. Cho and his colleagues suggest EGFR-targeting therapies could be used to treat such cases.
Bring on artificial intelligence
Extracting mutated genetic material from cancer patients is not the only challenge faced by clinicians. “I used to take quite a bit of time to sift through databases to find meaningful information on the mutations identified in a patient’s next-generation-sequencing result,” says Cho.
To address this, Cho and his colleagues worked with Korean medtech company Waycen to develop Waymed Gene. This software uses artificial intelligence to sift through the literature, curate a database, and then search through this and another manually curated database to provide clinicians with the latest information on the detected mutations. “Waymed Gene provides a dashboard that can be used to check gene mutation information from the relevant clinical and thesis data at a glance,” says Cho. “It helps me find the right drug or clinical trial for patients.”
Tumours shed DNA, which enters the bloodstream. This DNA provides an opportunity to detect cancer using liquid biopsies.© Science Photo Library - MOREDUN ANIMAL HEALTH LTD/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
The Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital team is also using the technology in Waymed Gene to discover new targets for anti-cancer drugs and to find molecules that can be used as drugs. They are currently using the software to look for molecules that can target mutations in the KRAS gene found in some types of cancer, including pancreatic, colorectal and non-small-cell lung cancer.
The research at Gangnam Severance Cancer Hospital on detecting circulating cancer mutations in liquid biopsies, and the use of state-of-the-art artificial-intelligence technology for providing up-to-date mutation information promises further advances for personalized cancer treatments.
URL : https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00309-x
The development of artificial intelligence (AI) medical services based on data from patients with chronic diseases will be promoted.
Waycen, a medical AI company, announced on the 15th that it signed an agreement (MOU) with Gangbuk Samsung Hospital for joint research on artificial intelligence (AI) for patients with chronic diseases.
The two institutions plan to jointly research and develop and verify artificial intelligence technology using data from patients with chronic diseases. Gangbuk Samsung Hospital provides various big data accumulated through mobile healthcare services for patients with chronic diseases, and Waycen developed a clustering and predictive factor analysis model for patients with chronic diseases based on machine learning to research medical AI technology for establishing customized care plans for each patient.
Through this agreement, the two organizations expected to realize both high-quality medical services and reduced work-load of medical staff by developing medical AI technology that can efficiently monitor patients with chronic diseases and present customized candidate care plans for each patient.
Based on the artificial intelligence-based patient/data management analysis platform "Health Aid," Waycen plans to automatically collect environmental information that can affect chronic diseases and analyze 80 indicators of patients through machine learning to develop medical AI technology that suggests the customized treatment programs.
Source: http://digitalchosun.dizzo.com/site/data/html_dir/2021/07/15/2021071580260.html
AI-based precision medical platform 'WAYMED' is highly evaluated for its technology and growth potential.
[Medical Newspaper, Daily Insurance = Reporter Oh In-gyu] Waycen (CEO Kim Kyung-nam), a medical AI company, announced on the 13th that it was finally selected for the "Microsoft For Startup" hosted by Microsoft, a global company.
The "Microsoft For Startup" is a program that discovers promising domestic startups with technology and actively supports investments and entry to overseas markets for tech-based startups such as AI, machine learning, and big data. It provides Azure credit worth up to 130 million won to selected companies, supports Microsoft's customers and partners in product sales, marketing, and the opportunity to meet with global VCs.
Waycen was highly praised for its technology and growth potential of AI-based precision medical platform WAYMED, and participated at the recommendation of Storm Ventures in the U.S. Storm Ventures is an investor with more than 1,000 start-up investment experiences, and is also known as an eye-catching investor in Silicon Valley, ranking at the top of the investment success rate.
Waycen plans to pave the way for its advancement to a global medical platform through the selection of this program. It plans to build a cloud-based precision AI platform and secure a platform base and increase company value by utilizing opportunities to invest in global VCs.
Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Waycen, said, "Waycen's business portfolio is aimed at global beyond Korea. By clouding both precision medical and DTx businesses, we will not just promote our technology to the world but plan to push ahead with research projects so that we can move forward with valuable Medtech technologies in medical environments around the world." he said.
Jang Hong-guk, head of Microsoft Korea's global partner solution division, said, "We are happy to be with Waycen, a promising company in the medical AI field, and we hope Microsoft's support will help Waycen grow and enter the global market, and Microsoft will continue to provide active support to revitalize the domestic startup ecosystem."
Meanwhile, Waycen signed a joint research agreement on AI-based medical big data utilization technology with Gangnam Severance Hospital and KAIST in April, and succeeded in attracting Series A investment in recognition of its excellent technology competitiveness based on more than 30 AI medical patents.
Source: http://www.bosa.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2154653
[Artificial Intelligence Newspaper reporter Jeon Mi-joon] Waycen (CEO Kim Kyung-nam), a medical AI company, announced on the 26th that it was finally selected as a "Baby Unicorn" company authorized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Startup Promotion Agency.
The 200 Baby Unicorn Promotion Project, selected by Waycen, is the first step of the government's K-Unicorn Project to become one of the four major venture powers, and aims to discover promising start-ups with innovative business models and growth potential and foster them as global competitive prospective unicorn companies (100 billion corporate value).
The finally selected companies can receive up to 5 billion won in preferential support for technology guarantees and up to 10 billion won in policy funds which includes up to 300 million won in market development funds for exploring and discovering new markets.
Waycen was highly praised for its competitiveness in artificial intelligence-based precision medical technology in this development project. The top experts, evaluation teams, and the public review team evaluated that Waycen's technology has sufficient competitive advantage in the medical market and finally selected it as a baby unicorn in recognition of its growth potential in the global market.
Waycen was selected as a high-growth SW company certified by the Ministry of Science and ICT in March last year, and was selected as a TIPS start-up team organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
It has been firmly established as a medical AI company in the medical industry by receiving orders for various tasks organized by Korea's leading university hospitals, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In recognition of its high growth potential as a medical AI company based on technology certification in each government department and excellent partnerships with university hospitals, it succeeded in attracting a total of 3 billion won in Series A investment from four venture capitals such as Samho Green Investment, ID Ventures, T Investment, and Creative Investment Advisory in February.
We are happy to be recognized for Waycen's technology and value for corporate growth, said Kim Kyung-nam, CEO of Waycen. "We will continue to research and develop artificial intelligence technology that is used in the precise medical field, and we will try to be the first unicorn company from the artificial intelligence medical domain."
Meanwhile, Waycen has developed an artificial intelligence-based cancer cycle precision medical platform "WAYMED" and is promoting various research and projects for precision medical artificial intelligence technology optimized for the medical environment.
Source : 인공지능신문(http://www.aitimes.kr)
[Medipana News = Reporter Park Sun-hye] Waycen (Kim Kyung-nam), a medical artificial intelligence company, announced that it has won a "brain disease overcoming R&D project" organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and started research on "digital therapy (DTx) this month.
The task is an integrated study to improve the diagnosis of emotional disorders, one of the core brain diseases, especially anxiety disorders, and will be conducted with a scale of 4.5 billion won over five years.
Yonsei University's Industry-Academic Cooperation Group organized the consortium with the participation of ▲ Waycen, ▲ Gangnam Severance, ▲ Severance Hospital, ▲ Bundang Cha Hospital, ▲ Cha University, and ▲KAIST.
The consortium plans to develop an artificial intelligence-based anxiety diagnosis and treatment prediction model through extended phenotype big data analysis such as multiple omics, brain imaging, and digital phenotype related to anxiety disorders.
With the artificial intelligence-based patient/data management analysis platform "Health Aid" and IoT sensors, Waycen plans to build a digital phenotype by collecting environmental information and patient's various digital behavior pattern data that can affect anxiety disorders. In addition, based on this, it was decided to develop and commercialize a digital treatment that can treat and manage anxiety disorders customized for each patient.
Through this task, Waycen will expand its research area to digital treatments as well as precision medicine. It plans to develop a differentiated digital treatment platform based on a number of medical artificial intelligence R&D know-how.
CEO Kim Kyung-nam said, "Waycen is significant in that it participates as the only private company in the consortium and is in charge of artificial intelligence research and business in the digital therapeutics sector. Digital therapies require rapid research and commercialization in that they can generate high therapeutic synergy." He continued, "It's not just about researching digital treatments, but about the medical environment in the future." "We will create a platform that is useful and necessary for many patients," he said.
Meanwhile, Waycen is a medical AI company that has developed precise artificial intelligence-based cancer cycle medical platform "WAYMED" and is promoting various research and projects for precision medical artificial intelligence technology optimized for the medical environment.
Source : Medipana News