Hippo T&C Selected for NIPA’s ‘AI-Based Public Healthcare Institution Digital Transformation Project’
Hippo T&C, a leading digital therapeutics company led by CEO Tai-Myoung Chung, has been selected for the National Information Society Agency (NIPA) project titled “AI-Based Public Healthcare Institution Digital Transformation Project.” This selection will enable Hippo T&C to advance and disseminate its digital therapeutics over the next two years.
The project will involve collaboration with Seongnam City, Yangsan Busan National University Hospital, National Traffic Rehabilitation Hospital, and Muju Health Center. The primary goals are to validate and enhance the ADHD diagnostic software AttnKare-D and the depression treatment BlueKare, ultimately contributing to the improvement of public mental health and regional healthcare equity. Seongnam City, under Mayor Shin Sang-jin, is particularly noted for its commitment to addressing the worsening mental health of its citizens post-COVID.
For users unable to visit healthcare facilities, the project will also offer services through private mental health centers and schools, including CogMo for attention assessment and improvement, and WithBuddy for stress and anxiety reduction to prevent depression. Additionally, the project aims to provide diagnostic services for pediatric cases in institutions with limited access to mental health specialists.
AttnKare-D is the world’s first device to diagnose ADHD using AI technology and Virtual Reality (VR) by tracking and observing user responses. It is currently undergoing confirmatory clinical trials at Samsung Seoul Hospital and Samsung Changwon Hospital for approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Additionally, its efficacy and safety are being validated through trials at the University of Nebraska and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The exploratory clinical results of AttnKare-D, which achieved an accuracy rate of 85%, were published in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, gaining international recognition. Hippo T&C is preparing for a global market launch upon receiving FDA 510(k) approval and has demonstrated superior performance compared to existing diagnostic devices such as Conners CPT and TOVA in clinical trials.
BlueKare is a mobile app that offers personalized depression relief and mental health self-management through meditation, deep breathing, conversation, walking, and self-discovery. Confirmatory clinical trials are underway at Samsung Seoul Hospital, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Seoul Asan Hospital for MFDS approval. The app includes continuous emotional state monitoring and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to improve depression. Additionally, its sister product, WithBuddy, provides a corporate version that analyzes employee stress, anxiety, and depression through statistics and causative analysis to enhance work efficiency.
The digital therapeutics market, which enables treatment and monitoring of progress in daily life, is gaining attention as a future medical device sector, showing an annual growth rate of 30.7%. The market is expected to reach over 22.5 trillion KRW by 2030. Currently, the U.S. leads the global market with over 50 FDA-approved digital therapeutics, but Korean startups are actively making strides as well. If AttnKare-D receives FDA approval, it will become the first digital therapeutic from Korea to enter the global market and the world’s first AI-based ADHD diagnostic device.
CEO Tai-Myoung Chung stated, "Our goal is to become a global leader in ADHD diagnosis." He added, "We will strive to ensure that AttnKare-D gains competitive strength in the global market and helps a greater number of people."
source : https://www.dailysecu.com