UniQuest, the main technology transfer and commercialisation company of The University of Queensland has exclusively licensed technology for the diagnosis and management of respiratory disease using smartphones to ResApp Diagnostics Pty Ltd.
The technology is based on a machine learning algorithm that uses sound alone to diagnose and measure the severity of a respiratory condition without the need for additional hardware.
The algorithm has been validated in a clinical study of 91 patients by The University of Queensland through funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The trial demonstrated 96 percent and 90 percent accuracy for the diagnosis of pneumonia and asthma, respectively.
The inventor of the ResApp technology is Associate Professor Udantha Abeyratne from The University of Queensland’s School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.
UniQuest identified the key drivers of value of the technology in the mobile-based health care market and is working with ResApp with the aim to develop the world’s first clinically-tested, regulatory approved smart phone application for respiratory disease diagnosis and management.
ResApp Diagnostics Pty Ltd has recently entered into an agreement with Narhex Life Sciences Limited (ASX: NLS), for the next stage of commercialisation for the technology.
On the 2nd of October 2014 the board of Narhex announced the signing of a binding Heads of Agreement to acquire 100% of ResApp Diagnostics Pty Ltd.
Brian Leedman, Director of ResApp said the company would target pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
“We expect to complete a US Food and Drug Administration clinical trial and launch our first approved product in late 2016”.
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said UniQuest is delighted to be partnering with ResApp and Narhex who are focused on mobile health.
“Mobile apps have the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing patients with a low-cost solution that does not require the purchase or use of additional hardware,” he said
“This new era in mobile-based health care will see patients empowered with the ability to cost-effectively diagnose and manage disease,” he said
Cough is the most common single reason for a doctor visit, and in the US, over 100m primary care physician visits result in diagnosis of a respiratory disease. 15% of the world’s population suffer from chronic respiratory or pulmonary diseases such as asthma and COPD, which require day-to-day disease management.
The addressable markets for this technology range from at-home smart-phone users, to telehealth providers and organisations such as the World Health Organisation.
Media Contact: UniQuest: Tony Keating: +61(7) 3365 4037
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