Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory and Fujitsu Begin Exploratory Joint Research to Develop AI Services to Predict Risks of Undernutrition in Patients with National Cancer Center and National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc., Fujitsu Limited

Tokyo, August 24, 2021

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc. (Head Office: Naruto, Tokushima, Japan; President and Representative Director: Shinichi Ogasawara; “OPF”) and Fujitsu Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Representative Director: Takahito Tokita; “Fujitsu”) began exploratory joint research to develop AI services to predict risks of undernutrition in patients together with the National Cancer Center Japan (“NCC”) and the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (“NCGG”).

This study is an exploratory joint research initiative aimed at developing an AI model for early prediction of risks of undernutrition in patients by conducting an AI analysis after anonymization of medical data for 10,000 cancer patients accumulated in the electronic medical record system of the NCC Hospital East ⁽¹⁾. The research will be conducted until the end of March 2022.

Undernutrition in cancer patients is known to be associated with poor prognosis ⁽²⁾, but patients’ nutritional status may vary depending on the progression of the condition and the treatment. In order to continue treatment while preventing the deterioration of nutritional status, it is important to intervene at an accurate time. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish appropriate clinical nutritional management based on predictive models.

In this study, OPF will narrow down the factors that cause undernutrition in patients by medical data analysis such as clinical laboratory values and treatment information, and construct and verify the AI model to predict risks of undernutrition at an early stage. Fujitsu will play a role in supporting the analysis of medical data using ICT, including a platform for the safe and secure use of medical data currently under development. NCC provides anonymized medical data and medical knowledge on cancer treatment, which is required to construct and verify predictive models, and NCGG provides knowledge on undernutrition determination.

By promoting the use of the AI prediction model developed through this study to medical institutions nationwide, the two companies aim to contribute to the improvement of the effectiveness of treatments by linking it to early nutritional intervention for patients at high risk of undernutrition in the future.

Based on the management vision of “The Best Partner in Clinical Nutrition,” OPF is dedicated to developing not only products, but also services that contribute to prevention and treatment of diseases through the use of digital technologies, and providing solutions that can contribute to the health of people.

Fujitsu strives to build trust in society through the power of innovation, promoting "Healthy Living" initiatives that support the well-being in people’s daily lives. Going forward, Fujitsu will leverage the results of this research to create a safe and secure environment for the use of data obtained from medical care and personal health management drawn from its electronic medical record systems, and will work to realize various services that contribute to improving the patients’ quality of life, contributing to areas including preventive medicine.

• [1]
  Location of National Cancer Center Hospital East:
  Kashiwa, Chiba; Director: Atsushi Otsu
• [2]
  Poor prognosis:
  The prognosis of surgery, disease, or wound and the prospect of recovery from them are not good.

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Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.

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