Digital News

Bristol Myers Squibb and Viz.ai, an AI-powered medical imaging company, have signed a deal to use AI to detect and triage patients with suspected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

The Viz HCM provider workflow software automatically reviews routine electrocardiograms (ECGs), detects cases of suspected HCM and alerts the cardiologist who performed the ECG. It is hoped that this will help physicians to diagnose HCM faster and in a more efficient way.

Viz.ai has filed a de novo request to the FDA for the software as a Software-as-a-Medical-Device (SaMD), which has been accepted for review.

Currently, Viz.ai has the Viz.ai Cardio Suite for US hospitals. It provides a mobile-based ECG viewer with AI alerts and communication tools, all aiming to improve cardiac care communication. If Viz HCM is approved, it will be added into the suite.

Viz.ai CEO Chris Mansi said: “HCM can be a devastating disease. The agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb gives us the opportunity to enable underdiagnosed and underserved HCM patients to get the care they need from appropriate providers at the right time. Incorporating the new HCM module into the Viz Cardio Suite is expected to enhance detection, expedite care and empower clinicians and patients.”

Suhas Krishna, vice president and head of Digital Health Product Management at Bristol Myers Squibb, commented: “At BMS, we believe that the use of AI to detect key, subtle characteristics in bio signals to aid physicians in the screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of diseases will have a critical and positive impact on patients’ lives. We are excited to continue building momentum in our support of Viz.ai’s R&D programme. The speed and quality in which this novel AI algorithm & workflow sequencing product was designed, verified, validated and submitted by Viz.ai for agency review is testament to the ability to drive rapid and meaningful innovation in healthcare.”