Post-approval: Identifying patients suffering from axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) at an early stage, candidates for an approved drug

A top-tier biopharma company had an already approved monoclonal antibody for treating axial Spondylarthritis (axSpA). The diagnosis of axSpA is based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and its interpretation is challenging and subjective. 16.4% of patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) are indeed misdiagnosed and suffer from axSpA [van Hoeven et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy (2017) 19:143]. AxSpA is diagnosed with an average delay of 7 years.

The revenue originated from the drug commercialization was not predictable due to the variability in the radiologist’s expertise in the interpretation of sacroiliac joints MRI across hospitals.

Quibim and the biopharma company entered into a strategic partnership structured in two phases: algorithm development and clinical validation with the regulatory clearance, and algorithm on-site deployment. The biopharma partner supported the collection of MRI exams for AI model training through their network of hospitals.

• Quibim’s solution will allow for a reduction in the variability of revenue across hospitals (which depends on radiologists’ expertise to identify the disease).
• Quibim’s solution will offer a systematic way of imaging data interpretation through a cloud platform that all rheumatologists and radiologists from the sites indicating the drug can use to analyze the MRI images and obtain the output of the algorithm.
• The algorithm will lead the digital transformation of the drug marketing strategy, offering the drug to the clinical specialist and an AI-based tool to diagnose the disease.

We will design and create a new tool with an already-existing product-market fit and a unique value proposition – currently in a category with no competitors. We are now scaling the relationship with biopharma to other indications using an already existing algorithm implemented and cleared by us.