Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada has announced a partnership with Vancouver’s Clarius Mobile Health as part of a dedicated effort to aid in early detection of psoriatic arthritis in Canada.
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, autoimmune disease form of arthritis that causes joint inflammation (swelling, pain, stiffness) and occurs with skin condition psoriasis. It can also affect the spine and known as a form of spondyloarthritis.
The agreement will facilitate access to Clarius’ handheld ultrasound devices for rheumatologists and deliver a robust training, support and education journey through in-person, virtual and asynchronous events.
By improving access to ultrasound technology, rheumatologists will be able to identify diagnostic markers sooner, and may positively impact the timeline to diagnosis for PsA patients.
“At Novartis, we recognize the tremendous potential AI holds for our industry and the healthcare landscape at large,” said Mark Vineis, Country President at Novartis Canada.
“The partnership with Clarius has the potential to transform PsA detection, with the possibility of scaling to other Immunology indications, across specialties and beyond Canada.”
As a result of the partnership, Novartis will generate evidence to measure and monitor adoption, usage and impact, and determine how usage of ultrasound in routine practice is related to early detection of PsA.
Clarius is a pioneer in the medical device field, miniaturizing ultrasound technology to improve medical imaging accessibility.
Earlier this year Clarius was named to Fast Company‘s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.
Clarius’ ultrasound devices connect to electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, allowing clinicians access to medical imaging in real time, improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs.
The Clarius app uses advanced artificial intelligence technology to automatically display an optimized image in real-time, enabling clinicians to make informed decisions at the point of care rather than referring patients to an imaging centre.
“We are inspired by Novartis’ mission to improve care for PsA patients and their novel approach to help accelerate diagnosis with real-time ultrasound imaging,” said Ohad Arazi, President and CEO at Clarius.
“We believe that this type of partnership between a pharmaceutical and a medical technology company can play a tremendous role in improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden on our healthcare system.
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