ResApp is currently testing COVID-19 detection technology in clinical trials: but it says the technology can be used to diagnose other respiratory illnesses including pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, COPD and asthma.
Using machine learning and algorithms to diagnose disease
ResApp was founded in Brisbane in September 2014 to commercialize technology developed by Associate Professor Odantha Aperatne that uses sound to diagnose respiratory diseases, and has since received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Queensland and Uniquest. It was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in July 2015.
It's evolving “Easy to use, affordable, medically approved and regulatory approved diagnostic tools that require only a smartphone.”
The spot-check test uses coughing sounds to indicate the presence of an infection, similar to using a stethoscope. However, ResApp captures "much more information than the sounds a stethoscope picks up" in addition to removing the need for human interpretation.
A machine learning approach has developed algorithms for diagnosing illness from coughs and respiratory sounds: drawing on a database of signatures from known clinical diagnoses.
In March, the company announced the technology Accurately detect COVID-19 in 92% of infected peoplebased on a trial of 741 patients (of whom 446 were positive), "exceeds real-world measured sensitivity of the rapid antigen test".
ResApp has three clinical trials that are currently recruiting patients in the US and India to collect cough sounds, symptoms and verified COVID-19 status through PCR testing.
“These studies will generate high-quality data, backed by accurate tags of key facts through PCR testing, which is essential for training a robust machine learning algorithm.” The company says. "Studies also collect PCR test cycle thresholds, allowing assessment of the algorithm's sensitivity to viral load."
By using a large data set of non-COVID-19 clinically prescribed cough samples, including coughs from patients with non-COVID-19 lower respiratory infections, ResApp will be able to ensure that any COVID-19 screening test developed accurately identifies COVID-19. 19 and no other respiratory diseases.
Pfizer and ResApp will also enter into a COVID-19 research and development licensing agreement, with an upfront licensing fee of A$3 million, and up to A$1 million in premium payments based on clinical trial recruitment.
“This research collaboration and proposed acquisition adds to our growing digital capabilities and advances our efforts to usher in a new era of digital health,”said Lydia Fonseca, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Pfizer.
Collect clues from the real world
ResApp approved and clinically validated products include ResAppDx, a smartphone-based acute respiratory disease diagnostic test for use in telehealth, emergency department, and primary care settings; and SleepCheck, a smartphone app that allows consumers to self-assess their risk of developing sleep apnea. Both products are CE marked in Europe and TGA certified in Australia.
ResApp sees the app's potential in helping doctors diagnose respiratory illnesses remotely, without the need for patients to visit the clinic. In January, the app was published on the Australian online telehealth platform, Doctors On Demand.
ResApp has also signed a one-year agreement with Dartford and Gravesham National Health Service Trust in the UK to pilot its app across four hospitals: with data and lessons set to inform opportunities across Europe.
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