Kubota Vision, a clinical-stage ophthalmology company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Kubota Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd. (Tokyo 4596), today announced that the company demonstrated 3D imaging capabilities using artificial intelligence (AI) on their Patient Based Ophthalmology Suite (PBOS), in-home optical coherence tomography (OCT) device.^*1

Kubota Vision completed a successful clinical study in October 2018 that demonstrated the PBOS could detect thinning and thickening of the human retina over time, when compared to results from an established commercial OCT device. (See October 28, 2018 press release titled “Acucela Completes PBOS Clinical Study and Validates Concept.”)

A commercial OCT device is large and expensive, and mainly used at large eye clinics/centers and laboratories; however, our PBOS is a home-based, patient-friendly, ophthalmic self-monitoring miniature OCT device designed to detect disease progression. It uses network connectivity and cloud-based technologies to share images and alert patients and their physicians of disease progression and re-treatment needs, without requiring physician office visits.

The first fully-functional, working PBOS prototypes have been completed, and the company is currently in the process of further improving the software including 3D imaging capabilities. The 3D imaging assists in the detection of fluid buildup within and under the retina of the eye. Kubota Vision will continue advancing this program and seeking partnership opportunities for commercialization.

Ryo Kubota, MD, PhD, Chairman, President and CEO of Kubota Vision, stated, “We are excited to share this great news that our PBOS demonstrated 3D imaging capabilities using AI via internet data transfer. We will continue working on its improvement as well as gathering data to become a big data-driven company in ophthalmology. Our goal is to improve the quality of how we treat patients with ophthalmic diseases and make it available globally to people in need.”

^*1 OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) is a non-invasive tool that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of the retina.

^*2 mHealth refers to the usage of mobile communications technology and devices to enhance access to healthcare information, improve distribution of routine and emergency health services, and provide diagnostic services.