Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALNY) said it has entered into strategic collaborations with Viz.ai and the American Heart Association to improve the detection and care management of patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
Under the agreement with Viz.ai, the companies will develop an AI-driven care pathway for ATTR-CM that integrates the FDA-cleared echocardiography algorithm Us2.ai with electronic health record systems. The initiative will also include the AWARE study, a prospective multi-system implementation trial designed to assess how AI-based screening can be incorporated into routine clinical workflows. The program is expected to begin later this year across five pilot healthcare systems.
In a separate effort, Alnylam will support a three-year initiative led by the American Heart Association that will bring together a network of ten multidisciplinary health systems through a national learning collaborative. The program is intended to identify gaps in patient care, exchange best practices and develop scalable approaches for diagnosing and treating ATTR-CM.
ATTR-CM is a progressive form of heart failure that frequently goes undiagnosed. According to the company, the condition affects around 350,000 people worldwide, with about 80% of cases currently unidentified.
“Earlier recognition can fundamentally change a patient’s course of disease,” said Sameer Bansilal, Vice President, Global TTR Medical Lead at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.
Tim Showalter, Chief Medical Officer at Viz.ai, said the collaboration is focused on “closing the gap between the first clinical signal and meaningful clinical action.”
Alnylam also hosted an investor webinar focused on its TTR programs to discuss the initiatives. The company develops RNA interference-based therapies and currently has six approved medicines available in more than 70 countries.