GC Biopharma said on the 22nd it will develop the world's first artificial intelligence (AI)-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) to predict hemophilic arthropathy.
The company, together with the Korea Hemophilia Foundation, Seoul National University College of Pharmacy, and Samsung Medical Center, has been selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "advanced bio convergence talent training project" and will jointly develop a CDSS to predict hemophilic arthropathy.
Many people with hemophilia experience "hemophilic arthropathy," in which the synovium, cartilage, and subchondral bone are damaged due to recurrent intra-articular bleeding. In particular, about 70% of people with severe hemophilia in Korea are known to experience the condition. As joint damage progresses, pain and movement restrictions worsen and quality of life falls significantly, but there is a lack of standardized models that can quantitatively predict the long-term risk of joint damage.
The project will be based on 30 years of real-world medical data from people with hemophilia in Korea and about 3,000 X-ray images. GC Biopharma plans to use AI Machine Learning technology to analyze a range of clinical information, including age, use of prophylaxis, and the extent of existing joint damage, and to develop a model that predicts the future progression of joint damage.
It will also apply AI Deep Learning-based image analysis technology to build X-ray reading capabilities. This will enable clinicians to predict joint health 5 to 20 years ahead based on a patient's current status and to compare and analyze prognoses depending on whether prophylaxis is administered.
GC Biopharma expects the CDSS to be used for establishing patient-tailored treatment strategies and for early preventive care. The company plans to complete development of the prediction model by the end of this year, and next year begin developing the X-ray reading technology and a CDSS prototype. It then aims to complete system construction by 2028 and proceed with patent filings and preparations for authorization by the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety.
The company plans to unveil interim results on the development of the hemophilic arthropathy prediction model at a hemophilia symposium on the 12th of next month.
Choi Bong-gyu, head of GC Biopharma's AID (AI·Data Science) Center, said, "Based on AI technology, we expect to predict joint damage in people with hemophilia earlier and support personalized treatment decisions," adding, "Ultimately, it will reduce the burden of joint surgery and hospitalization and improve patients' quality of life."