Sensyne Health gets UK approval for 'SYNE-COV' algorithm

Clinical artificial intelligence (AI) company Sensyne Health announced on Monday that its ‘SYNE-COV’ machine learning algorithm for Covid-19 risk prediction has achieved regulatory approval for use in the UK.

The AIM-traded firm said SYNE-COV analyses more than 60 variables in the patient electronic health record to generate a prediction of the likelihood of a Covid-positive patient developing severe disease, requiring ventilation or admission to intensive care.

It said it provides the risk prediction, together with an explanation of the result, to help clinicians manage patients admitted to hospital with Covid infection.

The SYNE-COV product was developed in collaboration with the Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and was the first algorithm developed from the ‘SENSE’ clinical and operational algorithm engine to achieve UK regulatory approval.

SENSE generates clinical AI algorithms, called ‘SYNEs’, from the analysis of data in patient electronic health records to provide decision support to clinicians.

The company said it had several algorithms currently in development across a number of medical conditions, which, subject to regulatory approval, it intended to market to healthcare providers in the UK and internationally.

Following regulatory approval, Sensyne said it was now able to market SYNE-COV across the UK.

It was planning to market the algorithm to NHS trusts in order to help them with Covid-19 preparedness, and to deploy the algorithm in good time for the 2021-2022 winter season.

“This is the first Sensyne clinical AI algorithm to achieve regulatory approval that has been developed using our SENSE clinical AI platform,” said chief executive officer Lord Drayson.

“The SENSE engine is expected to be able to generate clinical algorithms across a range of medical conditions that will provide real-time clinical decision making support.

“Achieving the first regulatory approval is an important milestone for the company, and we look forward to being able to roll SYNE-COV out to the NHS.”

At 1105 GMT, shares in Sensyne Health were up 0.15% at 162.75p.