King Abdulaziz University

DUBAI, UAE, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Augnito, a leading provider of Medical Voice AI solutions, has formed an alliance with Dharmendra Ghai, a prominent digital health evangelist based out of Qatar. Ghai's investment and expertise are set to accelerate the development and deployment of Augnito's cutting-edge healthcare technologies, enhancing patient experiences and operational efficiency across the global care continuum. With his keen eye and deep understanding of multiple markets, Ghai has established himself as an astute investor and trusted advisor to numerous companies. He currently serves on the board of VSee, a leading telehealth platform, and has made notable investments in various digital health companies — including Wellist, Meddy (now HeliumDoc), 4basecare, Mom's Belief, and NimbleHeart. Ghai is also a Digital Health Partner for the esteemed HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), with an executive education from both MIT and Stanford, and an eHealth Consultant for the Health Ministry of Qatar. Augnito is at the forefront of SaaS innovation, providing state-of-the-art multi-lingual speech recognition, generative AI, and natural language processing technology to healthcare organizations worldwide. The company's suite of advanced voice-based solutions employs human-centric design principles to meet the evolving needs of both healthcare providers and patients. Augnito's recent partnerships with leading healthcare institutions in the Middle East, such as King's College Hospital London (Dubai), Cloud Solutions (HMG Group), Prime Healthcare, Dallah Hospitals, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, RAK Hospital, among several others, have showcased the company's commitment to driving innovation and creating significant impact for the region. Augnito's software is built-in compatible for native Arabic speakers (language and accents) and offers seamless enterprise IT solutions coupled with a differentiated approach to customer success. As an authority in healthcare informatics and innovation, Ghai's insights on regional business strategy, as well as patient security, medical imaging, and mHealth are expected to further accelerate Augnito's growth. The collaboration will facilitate a deeper understanding of the region's nuances and allow the Medical Voice AI innovator to tailor its products to better serve the Middle East. "We are thrilled to have Dharmendra Ghai as an investor," said Rustom Lawyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Augnito. "His expertise and vision are unparalleled, and we believe that he will be a catalyst in accelerating innovation — enabling us to bring even more refined and intuitive solutions to the market. We look forward to delivering enhanced healthcare experiences in the GCC, for patients and providers alike." Dharmendra Ghai expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I am delighted to invest in Augnito, a company that has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare technology. Their human-centric solutions and strong leadership team have positioned them at the forefront of the Medical Voice AI industry. I look forward to contributing to their growth and success in the global healthcare market." Both parties stated their unwavering commitment to ensuring that clinicians have access to the best tools and technologies to deliver superior patient care. About Augnito Augnito is an intuitive and advanced Voice-AI solution innovator, revolutionizing clinical documentation in the global healthcare market. Their proprietary AI-based clinical speech recognition, natural language understanding (NLU) C generative AI technologies enable ergonomic data entry with 99% accuracy, anywhere, from any device. Augnito helps streamline clinical workflows, makes healthcare intelligence securely accessible, and ensures that physicians have more time to concentrate on their primary concern: patient care. Their solutions are currently in use at more than 375 hospitals, across more than 25 countries. For more information or assistance, please visit augnito.ai or email [email protected] SOURCE Augnito

In the GCC, Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the leading territories spearheading the transformation of the healthcare landscape in the region. The country’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals encompass a range of objectives, which include enhancing healthcare services, digitising healthcare records, and elevating the overall efficiency of the nation’s healthcare system. Given the Kingdom’s resolute commitment to these healthcare advancements, it is unsurprising that Saudi Arabia is poised to introduce a comprehensive Health Information Exchange (HIE) system that has the potential to outshine its global counterparts. As the Medical Director of the Council of Health Insurance (CHI) in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Wail Yar is one of the key figures driving the programme. The CHI plays an integral role in the establishment of the country’s HIE known as NPHIES, which stands for the National Platform for Health and Insurance Exchange Services. “What makes NPHIES unique is that it has two parts: NPHIES Taameen [Insurance] and NPHIES Sehey [Health],” explains Dr. Yar. “This division is necessary due to how healthcare functions in Saudi Arabia, encompassing both public and private sectors.” The Kingdom’s public sector comprises four entities: the Ministry of Health (MoH), Saudi Arabian National Guard, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Education health offerings. “NPHIES Taameen serves as the infrastructure for the interaction between insurance companies and the private sector,” he states. Dr. Yar – who is also Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at King AbdulAziz University – is scheduled to appear at the 6th GCC eHealth Workforce Development Conference (eHWDC 2023) , taking place between 31 October and 2 November 2023 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The event will feature a dedicated panel where further details about NPHIES will be revealed. But just what do we know about it as of now? NPHIES TAAMEEN According to public records, the initial phase of NPHIES’ implementation commenced in 2020 and has steadily advanced since. The project comprises two parts: one for the insurance segment, known as Taameen, and is under the management of the CHI; and one for healthcare, referred to as Sehey, which is overseen by the Saudi MoH. As of now, NPHIES Taameen has achieved broader public accessibility, with approximately 75% of healthcare providers currently integrated into the system. “The CHI’s role, established two decades ago, was to mediate between insurance companies and healthcare providers. Before NPHIES Taameen was launched, hospitals sent requests directly to insurance companies, following the prior authorisation process,” says Dr. Yar. “Today, the NPHIES platform acts as the intermediary. Hospitals and insurance companies connect their systems to NPHIES. Hospital service requests now go through NPHIES, and insurance companies respond through the platform. The CHI can monitor and regulate these transactions, ensuring transparency and addressing any issues like fraud, misuse, or patient care delays.” He continues: “At present, 75% of private providers are already connected to NPHIES, and by the end of October 2023, we aim to achieve a 91% connection rate.” NPHIES SEHEY Similar to other HIEs, NPHIES Sehey will house comprehensive patient data, such as medication history, allergies, vaccination records, and outpatient visits. Currently, it is in the testing phase. It is anticipated that more will be revealed about NPHIES Sehey in the coming weeks. With NPHIES Taameen approaching 90% adoption by the end of October, the same percentage target is set for NPHIES Sehey but with a different timeframe. “Our goal is to reach 90% of the market,” reveals Dr. Yar. “From an insurance perspective, 90% of the market will already be linked to NPHIES Taameen by the end of October. “However, expanding to NPHIES Sehey will no doubt take more time; likely 3 to 5 years to achieve a similar level of integration. The process for hospitals is quite costly and complex; it’s not that easy to do. It requires a lot of manpower, equipment, education, technical implementation, and adoption. It's a significant undertaking.” Find out more about NPHIES during eHWDC 2023. Register to attend by visiting gccehealth.org .

Kinimmune is developing tissue adhesive formulations that persist in treated tumors to limit systemic exposure and maximize the therapeutic window. ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kinimmune, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of localized immunotherapies, announced the publication of clinical results from a Phase I trial in solid tumor patients. The paper, titled “A window of opportunity trial evaluating intratumoral injection of Copaxone® in patients with percutaneously accessible tumors,” was published in Translational Medicine Communications. This work was conducted in collaboration with researchers at the University of Kansas Cancer Center and King Abdulaziz University. The paper describes how the tissue retentive and local inflammatory properties of glatiramer acetate, an FDA-approved multiple sclerosis drug, motivated a clinical trial investigating its use as an intratumoral immunotherapy. In this open label study, 9 patients with resectable solid malignancies were treated with Copaxone®, the longest approved glatiramer acetate product. Patients received 1, 2, or 3 intratumoral doses of 40 mg/mL Copaxone® between an initial visit and the surgical resection of their tumor. The primary goal of this study was to assess the safety of intratumoral Copaxone®, comparing these findings to historical data from its traditional subcutaneous route. Baranda et al. reported that intratumoral injections of Copaxone® were well tolerated, mirroring common subcutaneous injection site reactions in multiple sclerosis patients. In the study design, the research team was also able to compare pre-treatment biopsies with post-treatment resection samples to assess local immune activation by RNAseq and spatial profiling of immune-related targets. In these analyses, the paper reported evidence of immune cell recruitment and activation in addition to upregulation of common targets for checkpoint inhibition such as PD-1/L1 and CTLA-4. “We are excited by the results of this trial,” shared Kinimmune CEO Cory Berkland. “The conserved safety pro intratumoral glatiramer acetate and early biomarker signals of immune activity are positive developments in Kinimmune’s quest to develop safer, more potent options for patients suffering from cancer. I’m proud of this team, and completing this small trial is an important step in validating our ability to execute on strategy,” he continued. Read the full publication here About Kinimmune Kinimmune is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of localized immunotherapies that maximize the therapeutic window for patients with immune-mediated diseases. By keeping potent drugs at the site of injection, Kinimmune unlocks the power of the immune system while minimizing the likelihood of off-target adverse effects.