NOVA MSC Bhd is pushing for a wide deployment of its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven SELENA+, a deep learning system that enables early detection of eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma suspect and age-related macular degeneration.
Already an exclusive distributor of products by EyRIS Pte Ltd, the company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) and Rhazes Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd, a tele-pharmacy platform provider, to bring SELENA+ to mainstream adoption in Malaysia.
Under the collaboration, SELENA+ will be deployed at AMO’s more than 1,000 members across Malaysia via Rhazes Telehealth, Malaysia’s first knowledge-based telehealth service provider through its brand Rhazes TeleOpto.
EyRIS is 42% owned by novaHEALTH Pte Ltd which in turn is wholly-owned by Nova MSC.
“We are optimistic that the collaboration with both AMO and Rhazes will drive forward the adoption of SELENA+ in Malaysia,” Nova MSC’s general manager Nazeroll Kasim pointed out. “During the pandemic, we have seen a rise in telehealth and how it has gradually moved towards mainstream adoption.”
According to AMO president Ahmad Fadhullah Fuzai, the deployment of SELENA+ to AMO’s member practices across the country will help to improve the range and quality of their services.
“This synergistic partnership with Nova MSC will see the deployment of SELENA+ initially in 55 practices across Malaysia through the Rhazes’ TeleOpto platform and eventually expanding to other member practices within a year,” he projected.
Early screening and detection of early eye diseases can significantly reduce vision loss and in the case of diabetic retinopathy, studies have shown that diabetes-related vision loss can be reduced by up to 47%.
SELENA+ has been approved for use by the Malaysian Medical Device Authority since June 22, 2020.
Aside from that, there will also be an addition of a new algorithm to detect chronic kidney disease (CKD) through the same fundus image used by SELENA+ to detect retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma suspect and age-related macular degeneration.
The new algorithm will enable Nova MSC to be a game changer in the first stage diagnostic, a drive towards being able to implement rapid screening tools to aid early detection for systemic diseases, according to its group CEO Lai Teik Kin.
“Our CKD algorithm boasts an 85% accuracy rate, and uses non-invasive fundus imaging that allows results to be generated within 10-15 seconds with ease, speed and accuracy,” he noted.
Lai also pointed out that the recent gold award won by EyRIS in the Most Promising Innovation category at the Techblazer Awards 2021 held in Singapore is a sign of the group’s push to bring world-class technology into the world.
The push to deploy SELENA+ into mainstream adoption in healthcare services has seen the availability of the technology in 26 countries.
In order to continue to expand the capabilities in disease detection through its cutting-edge AI deep learning technology, EyRIS has inked a research collaboration agreement with a specialty centre under the National Healthcare Group (NHG) to develop a new proprietary AI that detects melanoma using a mobile phone camera. This was facilitated by NHG’s Centre for Medical Technologies and Innovations (CMTi).
Given that melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, early detection is able to increase the five-year survival rate to 99%. With one in every three cancer diagnoses being skin cancer and the high melanoma incidence rate of 3.4 per 100,000 worldwide, the ability to detect skin cancer early through non-invasive mobile imaging will contribute to the fight against skin cancer mortality.
At the close of today’s trading, Nova MSC was up 0.5% or 5% to 10.5 sen with 2.59 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM123 mil. – Feb 17, 2022
