Bayer, Huma take Digital Heart health screening tool to KSA

Bayer, a leading global life sciences company, and Huma Therapeutics Limited, a leading global digital health company, have announced the launch of their innovative heart health screening tool in Saudi Arabia. 

This marks the first global launch since the Bayer Aspirin Heart Health Risk Assessment went live in the US in 2023, and is aimed at supporting key objectives of the Vision 2030 national strategy for Saudi Arabia. 

The Bayer Aspirin Heart Health Risk Assessment is a digital-only tool that rapidly evaluates an individual's risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) over the next decade, without the need for invasive blood tests and blood pressure measurement. 

Good predictive ability

Huma developed the algorithm by leveraging 15+ years of longitudinal data from over 500,000 individuals from the UK Biobank Dataset. Clinical validation of the algorithm in the European Society of Cardiology found that the Heart Health Risk Assessment had very good predictive ability when compared to the standard of care. 

The launch of the Heart Risk Assessment in Saudi Arabia aligns with the country’s Vision 2030 healthcare sector transformation strategy, which has made the reduction of the clinical and economic burden of cardiovascular disease a national priority. 

Cardiovascular diseases, like stroke and heart failure, are among the leading causes of death in Saudi Arabia, and the Vision 2030 strategies aim to reduce the disease burden through prevention. 

Bayer has set a similar intention, through the company’s mission of “Health for All, Hunger for None” and long heritage in heart health to create comprehensive initiatives around cardiovascular disease prevention, advancing access to life-saving solutions for all. This launch in Saudi Arabia is an early step in the company’s long-term, global plan.  

Additional healthcare initiatives

In addition to the Heart Health Risk Assessment, Huma and Bayer are separately supporting additional healthcare initiatives in Saudi Arabia in support of Vision 2030. Huma has recently launched a diabetes care pathway within the Seha Virtual Hospital, an ambitious and innovative telemedicine platform launched by the Saudi Ministry of Health in order to expand care access and improve care delivery as part of the Vision 2030 objectives. 

Bayer has committed to screening 1,000,000 citizens who might be at risk to develop cardiovascular disease as part of the ‘Protect Your Heart’ campaign in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Health. 

The launch of the Heart Health Risk Assessment tool also aligns with the recently introduced Biotechnology Strategy of Saudi Arabia. This strategy aims to leverage advanced technologies, such as digital health tools, to improve healthcare outcomes and foster innovation in the country's healthcare sector.

Digital-first healthcare

Dan Vahdat, CEO and Founder of Huma, said: “Saudi Arabia is fast becoming a world leader in digital-first healthcare. Having recently achieved Saudi FDA Class C regulatory clearance for our disease-agnostic, configurable Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) platform, Huma is well-positioned to support the ambitious healthcare transformation put forward by the Ministry of Health as part of Vision 2030. 

“We are proud to be supporting heart health at scale with the launch of the Heart Health Risk Assessment and we look forward to further collaborations with the Ministry of Health as part of our commitment to fostering a healthier future for the people of Saudi Arabia.”

Mohamed Galal, Vice President of Middle East and Pakistan at Bayer, said: "Cardiovascular diseases pose a significant burden globally, and the Middle East is no exception. Bayer is dedicated to working in collaboration with governments and key partners to address this challenge and improve the quality of life for the people of the Middle East. Our partnership with Huma to expand the Heart Health Risk Assessment tool to Saudi Arabia underscores our commitment to leveraging digital health solutions for preventive care. By enhancing access to heart health screening and promoting early detection, we aim to contribute to the efforts of Vision 2030 in reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and ensuring a healthier future for the region.”

Key step

Maged ElShazly, Bayer’s Managing Director & Country Commercial Lead Consumer Health in Saudi Arabia, commented: "Our collaboration with Huma is a testament to Bayer's commitment to advancing digital health solutions that can make a real difference in people's lives. The launch of the Heart Health Risk Assessment tool in Saudi Arabia is a significant step towards achieving the goals of the Vision 2030 strategy. 

“We are proud to be part of this initiative that prioritises prevention and early detection of cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of death in the country. We look forward to continuing our work with Huma and the Saudi Ministry of Health to further support the health and wellbeing of the Saudi population."

Beyond Saudi Arabia, Bayer and Huma plan to bring the Heart Health Risk Assessment to Latin America next year.--TradeArabia News Service