Korean company brings AI-based early cancer diagnosis device to Vietnam

On September 15, Noul, a South Korean company specializing in blood and cancer diagnostic solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), said that Vietnamese state management agencies have approved the use of the company's AI-based cervical cancer screening device.

The miLab™ CER digital cervical cytology analyzer is an AI-based cervical cancer diagnostic platform recommended for use in the WHO-UNITAID 2024 report, a joint publication of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNITAID.

The device automates the staining, imaging, and AI-based analysis of cervical cytology slides, replacing the traditional complex workflow and required infrastructure with a single device.

The device’s AI algorithms analyze approximately 25,000 cells per sample, classifying the cells according to the Bethesda system and detecting signs of precancerous and cancerous lesions. Medical professionals can review and reclassify the results on-site or remotely, allowing for a quick and accurate determination of whether the person being tested requires immediate treatment or referral to a higher-level medical facility.

With this approval, Noul's entire product line in Vietnam - including the previously approved "miLab BCM" (blood test), miLab™ CER (cervical cancer test) and "miLab MAL" (malaria test) - has received the license. This is also the first approval in Asia for a cervical cancer diagnostic solution.

miLab™ CER is expected to be launched in October. The company said it is preparing for its first large-scale sales in the Asian and European markets.

According to Mr. Lim Chan Yang, CEO of Noul, Vietnam is an emerging healthcare market with a population of more than 100 million people. The cancer screening market here is growing rapidly, due to factors such as a growing middle class and an aging population.

In particular, the Vietnamese medical equipment market depends on imports, accounting for about 90%, of which Korea currently holds the largest market share. This demonstrates a high level of confidence in the quality and price competitiveness of Korean products.

Since the beginning of this year, Noul has been steadily increasing its pre-orders for the miLab™ CER device and has signed supply contracts with six Central and South American countries and Qatar in the Middle East. In addition, the company completed product registration in Switzerland in May, laying the groundwork for collaboration discussions with pharmaceutical companies and global laboratory chains.

With the licensing of the Vietnamese Government , Noul has established a sales base in the ASEAN region and is expected to actively participate in the public procurement market as well as expand private distribution in the future.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a unit of WHO, each year about 4,600 Vietnamese women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, of which more than half lead to death.

In contrast to developed countries where mortality rates have fallen significantly thanks to widespread screening and early treatment, Vietnam currently has a relatively high mortality rate to cervical cancer incidence.

Experts believe that Vietnam needs a large-scale screening system and improved access to early diagnosis. In this context, the AI-based miLab™ CER is expected to be a useful solution in the healthcare environment in Vietnam./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cong-ty-han-quoc-dua-thiet-bi-chan-doan-ung-thu-som-dua-tren-ai-vao-viet-nam-post1061936.vnp