March-April . 2024 | The HEALTH
Foreign Local News
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JOHNSON & Johnson ( J & J ) announced on March 18 that it was working with Nvidia to develop and scale new artificial intelligence applications for surgery .
J & J ’ s MedTech unit and Nvidia plan to integrate AI within devices and platforms from pre-op to post-op to help ensure that surgeons have access to all the information they need , Nvidia ’ s vice president of health care Kimberly Powell said . For instance , the companies are using AI to analyse surgical video and automate the time-consuming documentation required after a procedure .
“ There ’ s an ability to use all the sources of data inside an operating room , whether it ’ s your voice , or whether it ’ s the video coming from a camera inside the body , or elsewhere , to take advantage of the generative AI moment that we ’ re in ,” Powell told CNBC in an interview .
The MedTech unit at J & J creates tools and solutions for conditions such as heart failure , kidney disease and stroke , and its technology is used in more than 75 million procedures each year , the company told CNBC . Powell said Nvidia has worked in medical devices and imaging for more than a decade .
Vice president and global head of digital at J & J MedTech , Shan Jegatheeswaran said just one minute of surgical video is equivalent to roughly 25 CT scans , so having the compute power and infrastructure to annotate and share those videos widely will be powerful for surgeons .
In the short term , he said de-identifying and enhancing the video can help educate
Johnson & Johnson and Nvidia to develop new AI applications for surgery
and train surgeons . In the long term , analytics can be layered on top of video to provide real-time decision support . More accessible surgical video means residents will not have
TAKEDA has announced a strategic alliance with Biological E . Limited , a prominent vaccines and biologics firm in India , to produce Takeda ’ s dengue vaccine , TAK-003 .
This collaboration represents a significant advancement in combatting the global health menace of dengue fever , in line with the World Health Organisation ’ s ( WHO ) objective to achieve zero dengue-related fatalities by 2030 .
The partnership aims to bolster manufacturing capabilities to ensure a consistent global supply of the vaccine . Biological E . will ramp up its production capacity , potentially reaching an annual output of 50 million doses , thereby expediting Takeda ’ s goal of manufacturing 100 million doses annually within the decade .
The announcement was made at BioAsia 2024 , a regional life sciences and healthcare forum organised by the Government of Telangana .
The Chief Minister of Telangana Sri Anumula Revanth Reddy said : “ We are delighted that Hyderabad in Telangana will host the facility where the dengue vaccine , a result of the partnership between Takeda and Biological E ., will be manufactured .”
Minister of Industry & Commerce of Telangana Sri Duddilla Sridhar Babu emphasised the significance of leveraging Takeda ’ s expertise and Biological E .’ s manufacturing capabilities to enhance accessibility and affordability of dengue vaccines , thus bolstering the nation ’ s healthcare resilience and preparedness for the future .
Takeda Global Vaccine Business Unit President Gary Dubin , M . D . said : “ Takeda ’ s long-term goal for our dengue programme has been to make TAK-003 broadly available to those at risk who may benefit from immunisation . Within the last year , we ’ ve successfully launched in private markets , are now launchto solely depend on the insight and availability of the more experienced physicians at their institutions .
“ Think about athletes . They look at game tape , and they get better over time as they look at themselves ,” Jegatheeswaran told CNBC . “ That ’ s sort of the starting point . That ’ s the holy grail in the short term .”
Powell said the collaboration is in the “ early innings ,” and many applications will take time to fine-tune and implement safely . However , she said nondiagnostic use cases such as automating paperwork will help save surgeons time and make a difference “ right out of the gate .”
“ I think all of us as patients should get really excited about the fact that this kind of technology is going to be able to enter in and be within reach of all the clinicians and all the hardworking nurses and all the health-care staff ,” Powell said .
Takeda accelerates access to its dengue vaccine
Enhancing patient outcomes in the Asia Pacific , Middle East and Africa ing in some public programmes , and working with partners to support a broader public health impact .
“ We are proud to announce a strategic manufacturing partnership with Biological E . Limited , which has deep expertise in vaccine manufacturing and longstanding support of public health programmes around the world .”
Takeda India and Southeast Asia Multicountry Organisation Head Dion Warren highlighted the company ’ s commitment to supplying vaccines globally and strengthening partnerships in Asia . He expressed optimism about the potential of integrated dengue protection to improve lives across India , Southeast Asia , and beyond .
The Lancet Global Health recently published long-term exploratory results from Takeda ’ s Phase 3 Tetravalent Immunisation against Dengue Efficacy Study ( TIDES ) trial , demonstrating sustained protection against dengue fever for up to four and a half years post-vaccination .
TAK-003 has received approvals in over 30 countries , including the European Union , the United Kingdom , Brazil , Argentina , Indonesia , Thailand , and Malaysia , for preventing dengue by any serotype .
THE 4th annual Alliance & Partnerships for Patient Innovation & Solutions ( APPIS ) Summit , organised by the APPIS 2024 Council and sponsored by Novartis , concluded on March 20 , 2024 . The two-day virtual event , held from March 19-20 , aimed to foster partnerships to overcome obstacles to patient access across Asia Pacific , Middle East , and Africa .
The APPIS Summit 2024 featured a lineup of more than 40 speakers , including healthcare experts , patient advocates , policymakers , and journalists specialising in health . Key sessions included discussions on leveraging real-world data for insights and empowering patients in self-advocacy . The agenda emphasised health literacy , policy shaping , and preparedness for future healthcare challenges .
Touched By Max . Inc Philippines President and APPIS 2024 Strategic Advisor Rod Padua said : “ Healthcare challenges in Asia Pacific , Middle East , and Africa are diverse and complex . Patients often face challenging barriers , from health misinformation to complicated and outdated health policies that result in a poorer healthcare experience .
“ Over the last four years , the APPIS platform has brought together our healthcare ecosystem - and all those involved – to collaborate on addressing the biggest challenges for patients in our region , and we ’ ve already seen positive impact for patients on the ground .”
Since its inception in 2021 , APPIS has brought together over 2,000 individuals , including patient groups , policymakers , healthcare providers , and academics , to facilitate knowledge exchange and forge partnerships in patient-centered innovation . The annual summit serves as a catalyst for programmes like the APPIS Innovator Programme , APPISx , and the online APPIS Resource Center .
APPISx promotes country-level engagements by bringing together patient organizations and healthcare stakeholders to catalyse action-oriented solutions that address barriers to healthcare . Notable achievements include the establishment of cardiovascular patient organisations in India and workshops to enhance healthcare legislation in the Philippines .
In 2024 , 16 APPISx sessions will be conducted across the region in South Korea , Australia , Turkey , Taiwan , Egypt , India , the Philippines , Vietnam , Malaysia , Japan , Thailand , South Africa , and countries in the Middle East and the Sub-Saharan Africa region , building upon the 11 APPISx sessions held last year .
Novartis Asia Pacific , Middle East & Africa Communications & Engagement Executive Director Ruth Kuguru emphasised the need for collective action to improve patient access and health equity . She commended the APPIS community for its efforts and expressed optimism about its ongoing impact on patient care .