Open Innovation: Healthcare

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Challenge Owner(s) Novartis
Organiser(s) SGInnovate
Industry Type(s)
Digital/ICT, Healthcare & Biomedical
Opportunities and Support Opportunities to connect and collaborate with open innovation leaders in Singapore and the region
Application Start Date 1 November 2021
Application End Date 3 January 2022
Website Click here to learn more

About Challenge

Novartis wants to identify ways to accelerate the diagnosis of patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and facilitate clinical decision support. Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a chronic inflammatory spinal disease and includes nr-axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Patients with AS have structural damage in the sacroiliac joints and/or the spine that is visible on X-rays. Patients with nr-axSpA do not have features of sacroiliitis that are visible on X-rays but have a disease burden comparable to that of patients with AS, including inflammatory back pain (IBP; predominantly in the pelvis and lower back), morning stiffness, nocturnal awakening, fatigue, and reduced spinal mobility.

The prevalence of nr-axSpA is reported to be ~0.1% – 0.4% in the general population, more prevalent in women, and ~16% – 37% in patients with IBP.

Early diagnosis of nr-axSpA is vital for symptom/disease management and to potentially limit spinal damage. However, diagnostic delays of nr-axSpA are common due to the non-radiographic nature of the disease and the need for a more expensive and less accessible (to patients) imaging modality – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hence we are looking for an advanced technological solution that utilises conventional X-rays to predict sacroiliitis and negates the need for an MRI. Ultimately, this approach may facilitate earlier nr-axSpA diagnosis and treatment for patients.

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