Ultromics, a U.K.-based healthcare company focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve echocardiography evaluations, is partnering with Pfizer to ramp up work on its AI offering for the detection of cardiac amyloidosis.
Under the new agreement, Pfizer will provide support as Ultromics works to validates its EchoGo Amyloidosis algorithm and eventually seeks clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The algorithm, which uses deep learning to scan routine echocardiograms, has already received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation. Ultromics has already seen significant success with its flagship product, EchoGo Heart Failure, which gained full FDA approval back in December 2022.
Pfizer, of course, is the company behind tafamidis meglumine and tafamidis, two treatments for cardiac amyloidosis sold under the brand names Vyndaqel and Vyndamax, respectively. Both medications were approved by the FDA back in 2019.
“Early identification and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis is critical to help slow disease progression,” Ross Upton, PhD, CEO and founder of Ultromics, said in a statement. “If cleared, EchoGo Amyloidosis will help physicians identify early signs of this debilitating disease, with the goal of facilitating earlier diagnosis and access to potentially life-saving treatment.”
“Echocardiography, while fundamental for the early detection of many heart conditions, is hindered by subjectivity and the demand for scarce expertise in the accurate identification of cardiac amyloidosis,” added Sanjiv J. Shah, MD, director of research for the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and director of the Center for Deep Phenotyping and Precision Medicine in the Institute for Augmented Intelligence in Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “AI can help detect cardiac amyloidosis early through routine ultrasound scans of the heart, which is vitally important because current treatments for cardiac amyloidosis work best when implemented early in the course of disease. AI-augmented detection of cardiac amyloidosis may be especially useful in clinical facilities lacking the time and resources needed for comprehensive assessment.”
Pfizer has also signed a multi-year deal with Anumana, a Massachusetts-based healthcare technology company focused on detecting signs of cardiac amyloidosis in electrocardiogram results. Anumana gained received the FDA’s breakthrough device designation for its ECG-AI model in June 2023. The company is now pushing to receive full regulatory approvals in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Cardiac amyloidosis seen as a rising priority in cardiology
In recent years, improving care for patients with cardiac amyloidosis has emerged as one of the hottest topics in all of cardiovascular imaging. It has been a big topic in sessions and the annual American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) meeting, since echo is the primary screening tool to detect cardiac amyloidosis. Before Pfizer gained FDA approval for tafamidis meglumine and tafamidis, there were no drugs on the market to help patients diagnosed with this rare, but potentially fatal condition.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.