- Saudi launch aligns with Vision 2030 healthcare transformation
strategy and highlights Huma and Bayer's commitments to
advancing care delivery in the Kingdom
RIYADH,
Saudi Arabia, May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Bayer, a leading global life sciences company,
and Huma Therapeutics Limited ("Huma"), a leading global digital
health company, today 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[i]. 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.
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.
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."
Maged ElShazly, Bayer's Managing
Director & Country Commercial Lead Consumer Health in
Saudi Arabia, commented on the
partnership expansion, "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 prioritizes 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 in the coming year.
About Huma
Huma Therapeutics is a global digital health technology company
that advances digital-first care delivery and research to help
people live longer, fuller lives. Its award-winning technology
platform is used by more than 3,000 hospitals and clinics, with
over 1.8 million active users in healthcare and over 700,000
participants across research.
Huma's technology powers:
- virtual care tools ranging from digital-first screening and
population health initiatives to at-scale remote patient monitoring
(RPM)
- companion apps to support patients through treatment and drug
therapies
- digital clinical trials, including decentralised
trials, to accelerate medical research
Huma's regulated Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) platform is
the first disease- and device-agnostic platform to achieve EU MDR
Class IIb, US FDA 510(k) Class II and Saudi Class C regulatory
clearance. The SaMD platform is regulated to accept artificial
intelligence algorithms and monitor patients of all ages.Please
visit www.huma.com and follow us on LinkedIn at Huma.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life
science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its
mission, "Health for all, Hunger for none," the company's products
and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by
supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a
growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving
sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its
businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its
earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The
Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout
the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people
and had sales of 47.6 billion euros.
R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to
www.bayer.com
Contact Bayer:
Sami Joost
Head of Communications, Public Affairs & Open Innovation –
Middle East
Email: sami.joost@bayer.com
For Medical Information: med-info.me@bayer.com
For Safety Reporting: pv.me@bayer.com
Find more information at www.bayer.com.
Contact Huma:
Meena Tafazzoli
Chief of Staff
Email: meena.tafazzoli@huma.com
Phone number: +44 7551 586725
Find more information at www.huma.com.This PRL is being
issued by Hill+Knowlton Strategies on behalf of Bayer, for further
information please
contact: dana.bugaighis@hillandknowlton.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on
current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead
to material differences between the actual future results,
financial situation, development or performance of the company and
the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in
Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at
www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to
update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to
future events or developments.
[i] Does not replace an assessment by a
qualified healthcare professional. Always talk to your doctor or
healthcare professional about your heart health.
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SOURCE HUMA Therapeutics