J&J & SciBase collaborate to develop skin-screening AI to predict eczema in newborns

USA — SciBase, a developer of augmented intelligence-based solutions for skin disorders has signed a collaboration agreement with Johnson & Johnson Consumer to develop an AI-based screening tool to predict the development of a common type of eczema known as atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants.

The collaboration’s goal is to develop and validate an AI-based solution for detecting skin barrier dysfunction and possibly predicting an infant’s risk of developing atopic dermatitis.

The collaboration will begin immediately and will last two years, including support for a study at several Swiss hospitals led by Dr. Caroline Roduit.

The study is a validation test of SciBase’s portable, non-invasive tool’s ability to predict atopic dermatitis in infants.

The method will be based on SciBase’s Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technology, and it will be tailored specifically for the portable Nevisense Go device.

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is estimated to affect 3% of adults and up to 20% of children worldwide—rates that have steadily increased since the 1970s due to rising levels of allergens, pollution, and other irritants in an increasingly urbanized world.

With 20% of children developing atopic dermatitis, SciBase, the AI technology’s developer, believes that the ability to predict those at high risk for this type of eczema could significantly expand treatments before it develops, potentially preventing the disease and long-term conditions that can persist into adulthood.

Skin barrier assessment is a newer application for SciBase’s EIS technology, which is approved in the U.S. and European Union for use in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer detection.

In 2020, SciBase announced Nevisense would be used to measure skin properties, including barrier function, in a study by Mt. Sinai Department of Pediatric Allergy that looks at how the type of birth affects the risk of developing allergies.

The use of AI to predict patient conditions is a growing area of collaboration and development.

Atopic dermatitis treatment armamentarium

Atopic dermatitis is currently treated with proper skincare, topical medications, and the elimination of aggravating factors.

Because atopic dermatitis is a recurring condition, treatment must be consistent in order to avoid regressive symptoms.

Phototherapy is an effective treatment for atopic dermatitis, but it is out of reach for many due to cost and accessibility.

Newer treatments, such as dupilumab (Dupixent; Sanofi and Regeneron), the first biological medicine developed for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, have been developed to target specific pathways.

While dupilumab is effective in many cases, it has a negative impact on some children. Other factors, such as skin infections and hypersensitive reactions, can contribute to the persistence of symptoms in some patients.

Treatment for pediatric atopic dermatitis has recently advanced. Ruxolitinib has been approved by the FDA for patients aged 12 and up, making it the first medicine tested in adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Pfizer’s abrocitinib is indicated for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults and children aged 12 and up.

Leo Pharma’s Delgocitinib is another inhibitor currently being studied in pediatric and adult patients aged 12 to 17 years.

Additional medications are being developed for pediatric patients under the age of 12. AbbVie’s Upadacitinib (Rinvoq) is currently approved for adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

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