Lunit gets first go-ahead for South Korea IPO

AI startup Lunit has received preliminary approval from the Korea Exchange for its initial public offering on the KOSDAQ.

This comes five months after it raised $61 million in a fundraising event that was held to seek global partners.

In a recent statement, Lunit said it plans to file its registration statement within the first half of 2022 to accelerate its debut.

Founded in 2013, Lunit develops AI-based medical diagnosis and treatment solutions. Its flagship products are Lunit INSIGHT, an AI image analysis tool for screening cancer, and Lunit SCOPE, an AI biomarker platform for cancer treatment. 

It has become the first healthcare company in South Korea to get an AA-AA technology rating, which is a requisite for a special listing track in the KOSDAQ.

After its listing, the AI startup will start conducting R&D on AI products and pursue global market development. It has signed deals with medical device giants like GE Healthcare, Philips, and Fujifilm to supply AI tools to about 600 medical sites in over 40 countries worldwide. 

Meanwhile, Lunit continues to expand its operations overseas by acquiring Medical Device Single Audit Program certificates in the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Brazil. Last year in November, the US Food and Drug Administration cleared its Lunit INSIGHT products for chest x-ray and mammography.

Parkinson's tracker added to SingHealth's Health Buddy app

A tracking feature for persons living with Parkinson's Disease has been added to SingHealth's Health Buddy app.

Developed by the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and SingHealth, the new Parkinson's Care feature allows patients and their carers and healthcare teams to record and track ever-changing Parkinson's symptoms and complications, such as after medication effects, uncontrollable body movements, poor sleep, and low blood pressure. It also has preset reminders for medications.

"[T]racking symptoms between appointments is an important part of Parkinson's Disease self-care because it gives the healthcare team a much clearer picture of their condition and how it is progressing. This helps us make appropriate treatment changes to help them manage their symptoms," said Prakash Kumar, the head of neurology at Sengkang General Hospital and a senior consultant at NNI's Department of Neurology.

Parkinson's Disease is the second most common neurodegenerative condition in the world with cases projected to increase as the global population matures. In Singapore, three in 1,000 people over the age of 50 are living with this condition.

Some Parkinson's patients are currently tracking their symptoms by jotting them down in a notebook despite having writing difficulties. 

"A digital journal makes sharing of information with caregivers or loved ones much easier, and the report feature allows for an instant overview of all their symptoms," Teh Choon Ling, centre manager of the Parkinson Society Singapore, said.

Intuitive India launches mobile companion app to da Vinci RAS system

Robotic-assisted surgery device maker Intuitive has released its mobile app for surgeons using its da Vinci surgical systems in India.

The My Intuitive App (MIA) provides surgeons with a single point of access to data during RAS procedures. It analyses these data to provide actionable insights they can use to hone their skills. It also captures their ergonomic preferences and timelines for cases and instruments used. 

The mobile companion app also serves as a digital portal to Intuitive's ecosystem, connecting surgeons to a personalised network of robotic systems, learning, and services. Users are able to access the Intuitive Learning Platform in-app, which features educational content like videos, learning plans, and simulation models.

"We believe that through the utilisation of MIA, surgeons can continue to leverage newer learning approaches, improve their surgical skills, and drive improved clinical outcomes," said Mandeep Singh Kumar, VP and general manager of Intuitive India.