Merck KGaA, Janssen to Develop Automated Diagnostic Tool for Neglected Tropical Diseases

   By Giulia Petroni

Merck KGaA said Thursday that it would partner with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV to develop an artificial intelligence-based diagnostic tool for the detection of neglected tropical diseases.

The German pharmaceutical and chemicals company said the prototype that is being tested consists of an automated microscope with AI and data visualisation tool. It enables the counting of parasite eggs that develop into parasitic worms of either schistosomiasis or soil-transmitted helminthiasis.

"This automated counting process is aimed at being both faster and more reliable than the current survey method, in which a lab technician counts the eggs in each sample manually," it said.

The prototype testing is set to continue throughout the year and pass to the clinical utility testing phase in 2021 through 2023, according to Merck KGaA.

Janssen Pharmaceutica is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Write to Giulia Petroni at giulia.petroni@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 02, 2020 05:45 ET (09:45 GMT)

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