Artificial intelligence has come handy in the race in developing diagnosis of COVID-19 infections and a cure requiring speed and precision.

According to industry sources on Wednesday, a growing number of companies around the world are deploying the capacity of AI in the discovery and development of COVID-19 treatments and the diagnosis of patients and determination of their disease severity.

In Korea, Theragen Etex and Synteka Bio are among employers of AI systems and big data analytics to screen candidate compounds to fight the coronavirus

In general, it is necessary to review 10,000 candidate molecules in order to release one potential drug candidate, but this process takes time. However, using AI can significantly save time and money as it can scrutinize more than a million research papers at a time.

Earlier, Theragen Etex used AI to discover five candidates for COVID-19 treatment among 1,880 drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Synteka Bio also used its AI system to successfully select 30 potential COVID-19 drugs among the previously approved therapies. The two companies will conduct drug efficacy tests on the candidate substances.

Lunit, a Korean medical AI solution company, is applying its AI platform to the diagnosis of COVID-19 at Myongji Hospital.

Lunit`s AI software, which detects abnormalities in the lungs, is already being used for COVID-19 diagnosis and screening at Seoul National University Hospital’s treatment center in Daegu and a large hospital in Brazil.

When the AI system analyzes the patient`s chest x-ray image and raises suspicion, the doctor thoroughly reads for final determination. This AI system can help maximize hospital efficiency especially when it is flooded with patients.

Myongji Hospital is also preparing to release an AI diagnostic service for a faster response to COVID-19 patients.

Overseas, an artificial intelligence tool has been developed to accurately predict which patients infected with COVID-19 would go on to develop severe respiratory disease.

The AI program developed by research team led by Prof. Megan Coffee in the Division of Infectious Disease & Immunology within the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in partnership with Wenzhou Central Hospital is able to predict risk of death in a COVID-19 patient with up to 80 percent accuracy.

In the current emergency, saving time is paramount, therefore it is worth trying AI, said Lee Seung-gyu, vice chairman of the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization.

By Pulse

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