First AI-generated drug enters human clinical trials targeting chronic lung disease patients

The first-ever drug generated by artificial intelligence has entered Phase 2 clinical trials, with the first dose successfully administered to a human, Insilico Medicine announced yesterday.

The drug, currently referred to as INS018_055, is being tested to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare, progressive type of chronic lung disease. 

The 12-week trial will include participants diagnosed with IPF.

"This drug, which will be given orally, will undergo the same rigorous testing to ensure its effectiveness and safety, like traditionally discovered drugs, but the process of its discovery and design are incredibly new," said Insilico Medicine’s CEO Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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"However, with the latest advances in artificial intelligence, it was developed much faster than traditional drugs."

For any new drug, there are four steps, explained Zhavoronkov, who is based in Dubai.

"First, scientists have to find a ‘target,’ a biological mechanism that is driving the disease, usually because it is not functioning as intended," he said.

"Second, they need to create a new drug for that target, similar to a puzzle piece, that would block the progression of the disease without harming the patient." 

The third step is to conduct studies — first in animals, then in clinical trials in healthy human volunteers, and finally in patients.

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"If those tests show positive results in helping patients, the drug reaches its fourth and final step — approval by the regulatory agencies for use as a treatment for that disease," said Zhavoronkov.

In the traditional process, he said, scientists find targets by combing through scientific literature and public health databases to look for pathways or genes linked to diseases. 

"AI allows us to analyze massive quantities of data and find connections that human scientists might miss, and then ‘imagine’ entirely new molecules that can be turned into drugs," Zhavoronkov said.

In this case, Insilico used AI both to discover a new target for IPF and then to generate a new molecule that could act on that target. 

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The company uses a program called PandaOmics to detect disease-causing targets by analyzing scientific data from clinical trials and public databases.

Once the target was discovered, researchers entered it into Insilico’s other tool, Chemistry42, which uses generative AI to design new molecules.

"Essentially, our scientists provided Chemistry42 with the specific characteristics they were looking for and the system generated a series of possible molecules, ranked based on their likelihood of success," Zhavoronkov said. 

The chosen molecule, INS018_055, is so named because it was the 55th molecule in the series and showed the most promising activity, he said.

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The current treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are pirfenidone and nintedanib. 

While these drugs may provide some relief or slow the worsening of symptoms, they do not reverse the damage or stop progression, Zhavoronkov said. 

They also have unpleasant side effects, most notably nausea, diarrhea, weight loss and loss of appetite.

"There are very few options for people with this terrible condition, and the prognosis is poor — most will die within two to five years of diagnosis," Zhavoronkov explained.

"Our initial studies have indicated that INS018_055 has the potential to address some of the limitations of current therapies."

The Insilico team is hopeful the data from this newly launched clinical trial will confirm the drug’s safety and effectiveness.

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"If our Phase IIa study is successful, the drug will then go to Phase IIb with a larger cohort of participants," said Hong Kong-based Sujata Rao, M.D., Insilico’s chief medical officer, in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

During Phase IIb, the primary objective will be to determine whether there is significant response to the drug, Rao said.

"Then, the drug will go on to be evaluated in a much larger group of patients — typically hundreds — in Phase III studies to confirm the safety and effectiveness before it can be approved by the FDA as a new treatment for patients with that condition," he explained.

One of the biggest challenges with these trials is recruiting patients, Rao said, particularly for a rare disease like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 

"Patients need to fulfill certain criteria in order to be considered for trial enrollment," he noted. 

Despite the challenges, Rao said the research team is optimistic that this drug will be ready to go to market — and reach the patients who may benefit from it — in the next few years.

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IV therapy craze has Americans pumping vitamins into their veins: Results are 'pretty dramatic'

While IV drip therapy has gained popularity as a trendy hangover cure and health trend, the practice of fueling the body with essential vitamins faster than an ingestible can has been around for decades. 

IV clinic owners Dr. Pauline Jose (PH Drip Lab in California) and Dr. Christopher Neary (Prime IV, which has franchises around the country) shared with Fox News Digital the types of vitamin cocktails they’ve been serving up of late.

Dr. Jose, based in California, revealed that about 50% of the national population is deficient in some type of vitamin, which means there's been a major demand in the supplement industry.

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But traditional oral supplements don’t always do the trick, said the allopathic primary care physician.

"When you take something orally, it's not always absorbed 100%," she said. "When you do it either intramuscularly or intravenously, through the vein, it's absorbed almost 100%."

This method can be "very important" for those who are vitamin-deficient, Jose said, which is "the reason why it has become so big."

It's not just people with medical conditions who are seeking out IV treatments.

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Some patients come in for "just a boost" in vitamins to strengthen their immune system before traveling, or to prevent infections such as COVID-19 and the flu, according to Jose.

"Even those who are about to get sick or are feeling under the weather — they go for a drip," she said.

Neary, who is based in Bend, Oregon, added that he believes COVID-19 served as a "catalyst" for the IV therapy craze.

"What we're doing is allowing high, targeted levels of nutrients to be delivered into the cells of the body without interference or issues with the digestive system," he said. 

"There's no question that the GI tract may not be absorbing properly."

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Many of Jose's regular patients want to add essential vitamins, such as vitamins C and B, to their drips. 

"It really helps to make them feel better," she said.

Jose mentioned that one of PH Drip Lab’s most popular concoctions is called the Myers Cocktail.

The mix, which includes magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B, is named after Dr. John Myers of Baltimore, Maryland, who first curated the cocktail in the 1960s, Jose said.

Myers used the cocktail to treat multiple conditions, including anemia, depression, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

"This is really an old thing, and it's just coming about because of the onset of functional medicine," Jose said. When people are deficient in vitamins, they don't feel well, she explained, and they have found that the IV infusions make them feel better.

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PH Drip Lab, in its own twist on the Myers Cocktail, adds glutathione, which is an antioxidant that helps boost immunity and promotes anti-aging.

Specific vitamins such as magnesium and potassium can help reduce blood pressure, Jose noted — while vitamin Bs can work as an anti-depressant.

"Many studies have shown that … vitamin Bs, for example, B6, B9 and even B12, can help with depression," she went on. "Many psychiatrists recommend Bs to their patients who have depression or anxiety or conditions like that." 

Neary, who owns Prime IV in Bend, Oregon, as well as a private practice, also advocated for the benefits of B vitamins on both physical and mental health.

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The naturopathic doctor listed the benefits of B vitamins, including hormone regulation, cellular function, energy restoration and mood improvement.

"If we can support just basic biology and chemistry with nutrients, that's always beneficial," he said.

Neary's clinic offers different formulas, including mixes that support energy, sleep, mood, detoxification and specific benefits like skin health.

"We've even stepped more into post-surgical type drips, and bariatric drips to replenish nutrients that are difficult to get after those procedures," he said.

"We have some for athletic performance recovery and some for chronic disease," Neary explained. "And, of course, there's the hangover drip."

While it might seem that the hangover drip would be the most popular treatment at Prime IV, Neary revealed that the clinic’s "Glow" drip is actually the one that clients seek most.

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This cocktail leans on B vitamins to detox the liver and promote healthier-looking skin.

At its core, Prime IV offers drips for enhanced hydration and electrolyte intake for people who are recovering from an event or who experience chronic dehydration from caffeine or other substances.

Many Prime IV patients have sought out drip therapy to overcome addiction using supplements like NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), Neary said.

Originally developed for opiate and alcohol addiction, NAD can help enable different biochemical processes, like energy production, sleep, detoxification and nerve function, Neary explained.

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The doctor added that "results across the board are pretty dramatic," as the quality of nutrients is "far superior to what it used to be" in terms of access and compound complexity.

"Everything is individualized, and we can customize just about anything," Neary said. "There are reasons to add things and remove things. It just depends on what each person needs."

Before starting IV hydration treatments, it's best to talk with a health care provider about possible risks and complications — and anyone with an existing medical condition should do so for sure, states WebMD.

While vitamins are inherently beneficial for most people, having too many vitamins injected into the bloodstream at once can lead to toxicity, per the same site.

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Overly frequent sessions can also cause nutritional imbalances in the body or even overhydration — which can lead to headaches and nausea.

Other potential side effects include swelling, redness or infection at the injection site. 

While IV therapy is not covered by insurance, Jose shared her hope for coverage in the future, even though "it’s a stretch."

"Even vital treatments these days are not getting covered," she said. "But that’s my wish."

Neary was more skeptical about future coverage for IV therapy, but he still encourages interested patients to try it out.

"There are reasons not to do it, and we want to make sure we're being safe," he said. "But with proper training, it is very safe."

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As Lyme disease tests miss many acute infections potential at-home test offers hope for earlier diagnosis

When Americans spend time in the great outdoors this summer, they don’t want to come back home with any uninvited guests. 

Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, can have severe complications if left untreated or unnoticed.

Prompt treatment is essential to prevent the spread of the disease elsewhere in the body.

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Yet the current recommended laboratory test to diagnose Lyme disease misses many early cases.

Now, a Virginia Tech research team is developing a promising at-home test that can diagnose the illness within hours of transmission, according to a recent report.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, borrelia mayonii, which is transmitted to humans after an infected blacklegged tick bites them, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"The only FDA-approved diagnostic for Lyme disease measures antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, not the presence of the bacterium itself," Linda Giampa, executive director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation in San Francisco, California, told Fox News Digital. 

"It misses up to 60% of acute cases of Lyme, as it takes several weeks for these antibodies to rise to detectable levels in people," she added.

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"Lyme disease has been commonly misdiagnosed by unreliable tests for far too long, and there are currently no reputable at-home tests on the market," she also said.

Some 35,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC every year, but the number of cases is grossly underreported — with insurance records estimating the true annual number around 476,000, according to experts. 

The infection was named where it was first discovered: Lyme, Connecticut.

Within several days to one month after a tick bite, someone may experience symptoms that could mimic the flu, such as fever, chills, muscle and joint aches, per the CDC.

In 70-80% of cases, a classically non-itchy rash that resembles a "bull’s-eye" develops at the site of the bite, often within a week of the infection, the agency added.

In later stages of the disease, such as days to months after the tick bite, untreated Lyme disease can spread to other parts of the body in about 60% of the patients.

Prompt treatment helps decrease signs and symptoms of the disease and prevents spread to later stages of illness. 

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Diagnosis relies on the body’s immune response to the Lyme bacteria because it’s very difficult to culture the bacteria directly in lab. 

"This requires both a healthy immune system and time to produce a robust enough response that can be detected (i.e., anti-B. burgdorferi titer)," Dr. Brandon Jutras, associate professor in the department of biochemistry and a member of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, told Fox News Digital via email.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, a nonprofit to advance research of Lyme disease, initiated a competition known as the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.

The goal was to inspire researchers to develop better diagnostic tests to detect active Lyme disease infections in people more accurately. 

There are 10 teams competing in the second round, including the team at Virginia Tech.

"Among the promising diagnostics supported by the LymeX Diagnostics Prize are at-home tests, which are being developed by a research group at Virginia Tech to enable direct detection of the Lyme disease bacterium within hours of transmission," Giampa noted. 

The Jutras team is focusing on a component in the cell wall that’s unique to the bacteria that cause the disease.

"Virtually all bacteria have layer(s) of peptidoglycan, and many of the components that make up peptidoglycan are highly similar," Jutras told Fox News Digital.

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"As it turns out, the peptidoglycan from the bacterium that causes Lyme disease is vastly different."

As the bacteria grow, they shed these unique pieces of their peptidoglycan that are highly abundant — which makes it a "perfect biomarker for diagnostics," he added.

"We have created several monoclonal antibodies that are capable of specifically detecting the peptidoglycan pieces," he said.

Antibodies to the Lyme bacteria can linger for months, he said. 

So it’s not always clear from the current recommended testing available if the patient has an active infection — or was infected in the past.

Although it will be likely several years before his test may be ready for use, "our approach would, in theory, work immediately after transmission because as long as the bacterium is replicating, [it is] shedding peptidoglycan," he said.

"This is a basic feature of this unusual organism," he added.

"Our test exploits this process," he said — noting that he hopes it "will lead to a rapid, specific test that doesn't rely on a patient response."

LymeX Diagnostic Prize officials note on the competition's website, "As the geographic range of ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas that can transmit pathogens and cause disease expands within the United States, the need for diagnostic innovation will only become more urgent."

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Jutras also said, as noted on that site, that he hopes long term, "we can do exactly what happened with COVID-19 and turn it into an at-home test. You wouldn’t be able to do a blood test; that’s not safe. But where we would optimize this is the urine test."

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Locally acquired malaria cases confirmed in Texas and Florida as CDC calls for action plan

Several locally acquired malaria cases have been confirmed in Texas and Florida within the past two months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in an alert on Monday.

The agency also expressed a concern that an increase in international travel throughout summer could lead to an uptick of cases.

For treatment of potentially adverse effects, the CDC called for a plan to ensure quick access to intravenous artesunate, the only medication for severe malaria available in the country.

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Malaria is a disease that is transmitted by infected female mosquitoes. 

In rare cases, it can be spread from a mother to a fetus or via a blood transfusion, organ transplant or infected needle.

In Florida, four cases have been confirmed within the same area. One case has been reported in Texas.

These are the first locally acquired diagnoses since 2003, the alert stated.

"There is no evidence to suggest the cases in the two states (Florida and Texas) are related," the CDC announced. 

"All patients have received treatment and are improving." 

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These recent cases involved the parasite Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax), which is the most easily treated type that causes milder disease, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.

"Vivax is the most widespread malaria and the biggest obstacle to eradication," he told Fox News Digital.

"It is concerning that there is local transmission because there are many anopheles mosquitoes, especially in this region," he continued. "However, the chance of sustained spread is very low."

While Siegel does not believe locally acquired malaria will become a widespread problem, he said the biggest concern is travelers bringing it into the country.

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Approximately 2,000 cases of malaria are reported annually in the U.S., but these are primarily among international travelers and immigrants returning from countries where the disease is prevalent, per the CDC.

Of the 240 million cases of malaria that occur globally each year, 95% of them are in Africa.

Those infected with malaria may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, per the CDC alert.

Symptoms usually begin anywhere from 10 days to four weeks after infection.

Without treatment, severe malaria can lead to seizures, disorientation, renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or coma.

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"Malaria is a medical emergency and should be treated accordingly," the CDC stated. 

"Patients suspected of having malaria should be urgently evaluated in a facility that is able to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment, within 24 hours of presentation."

Drugs to treat non-severe malaria include Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem®) and Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®).

"Chloriquine is a good prophylaxis [disease prevention] against vivax, and several very promising vaccines are in clinical trials to prevent disease," Dr. Siegel told Fox News Digital.

For severe cases, intravenous artesunate is the only medication available in the U.S.

To prevent mosquito-borne illness, the CDC suggests researching the risk of disease for any destination prior to travel.

Before traveling to a country with a high malaria risk, the agency recommends asking a health care provider about medications for prevention.

Those who have symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, the CDC advises.

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Be well: Prevent dangerous falls among older adults by taking key steps

More than one out of four older people experience a fall each year — and three million of them are treated in the emergency room for their injuries, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dangerous falls can be prevented by following safety protocols. 

Christynne Helfrich, PT, a physical therapist commercial consultant for Hinge Health in Illinois, shared some expert tips with Fox News Digital.

Going for daily walks or engaging in other low-impact physical activities can help to strengthen muscles, keep joints flexible and maintain overall endurance, Helfrich said. 

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"By finding ways to stay physically active each day, older adults can greatly improve their ability to live independently and with full function while decreasing their risk of falling," she said. 

Finding an activity that you enjoy — whether it’s swimming, yoga or Tai Chai — is the key to staying engaged and making it a daily habit, Helfrich added.

Sixty percent of falls happen inside the home, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) — which highlights the importance of making homes as safe as possible for older people.

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"Using brighter lighting and removing clutter on the floor will help keep you on your feet," Helfrich said. 

"It can also be helpful to add grab bars in the bathroom, where there are slippery surfaces that can increase the risk of falling."

Other tips include removing rugs that could pose tripping hazards, adding railings to staircases and installing ramps as needed.

Less than half of older adults who experience a fall don’t tell their doctors about it, the CDC reports — but discussing fall prevention with health care providers can be life-saving, Helfrich said.

"Your doctor can refer you to physical therapy or a local fall prevention program," she told Fox News Digital. 

She said health care providers "can also review your current medications to determine whether [these] might cause a loss of balance as a side effect."

The CDC also recommends asking a health care provider about taking vitamin D supplements, as some studies have found they can help reduce falling risk. 

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Staying up to date on eye exams is also critical, Helfrich added, since vision is critical in determining where the body is in the environment and helping with orientation. 

Standing up too quickly can result in a phenomenon called ortostatic hypotension, which is when blood pressure drops too quickly and causes dizziness. 

"As you age, blood pressure changes can cause you to feel dizzy if you move positions too quickly, which can increase your risk of falling," Helfrich said. 

"Take your time when getting out of bed or out of your chair to prevent this from happening," she said.

Older adults are more prone to experiencing fatigue, which can make them more susceptible to falling, multiple studies have shown.

"Making sure you get enough sleep at night is really important in helping your body recover from the previous day," Helfrich said.

To read more pieces in Fox News Digital's "Be Well" series, click here.

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Hydration nation: Clients clamor for IV therapy on demand even though its not FDA-approved

For an increasing number of people, "getting more fluids" has taken on new meaning as IV hydration bars and clinics pop up across the country and "clients" book time at these locations.

At spa-like clinics, patrons can receive intravenous (IV) fluids on demand, even when such hydration is not specifically recommended or prescribed by their doctor.

The IV drips can contain saline solutions or a blend of vitamins or electrolytes designed to counter the dehydration that can result from overexertion, flu-like symptoms or lack of fluids.

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People often seek IV fluid treatment for relief of hangovers, jet lag and nausea. They do so for aesthetic reasons, too — such as improving the appearance of their skin, according to health professionals who work at these hydration stations.

"When dehydrated, a person’s electrolytes are off, and they can experience altered mental status, fatigue or constipation," Stephanie Lopez, a registered nurse who works at IV Bars in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

She added that IV hydration "is good for the skin, and supports organs and muscles."

The IV fluid hydration center is set up with a "spa-like" feel, as the person sits in a recliner in a relaxing environment, Lopez explained.

A licensed nurse or paramedic administers the IV into an arm vein using a sterile technique. 

The hydration session typically lasts about 30 to 50 minutes, said Lopez. 

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"Each client is screened [according to] our regulations and parameters before an IV is administered," she said. 

"All clients are required to fill out a health assessment, which is then reviewed by the medical director through our EMR [electronic medical record] system."

Before the IV is administered, the facility’s trained and licensed RNs and paramedics perform an assessment of the clients to ensure they meet the approved parameters.

The benefits of IV hydration are countered by some degree of risk.

"There is always some risk when opening the skin, but we have paramedics and nurses who are already trained in IV administration and we keep it as aseptic as possible," Lopez told Fox News Digital.

Jennifer M., who asked that her last name be withheld, visited an IV hydration center in Annapolis, Maryland in early June.

"I read about IV therapy when my 80-year-old mom came to stay with me," she said. 

"She was told by her physician that if she didn’t stay hydrated, she would get more confused and be more likely to have recurrent UTIs [urinary tract infections]. My friend suggested seeing an IV nurse. After getting the OK from her physician, we went."

Jennifer M. noticed a positive change in her mother after just one treatment, she said.

"That evening, her confusion, low energy and irritability took a turn for the better," she noted. "She also admitted to feeling more alert and her skin wasn’t as dry the next morning."

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The average cost of an IV hydration session currently ranges from $100 to $500, depending on the type of hydration chosen, according to those in the business. 

Insurance does not cover the service.

Some companies offer mobile services — so the IV hydration clinic will come to your location.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a spike in IV spas nationwide as people developed a stronger interest in health and wellness, some hydration spa owners told Fox News Digital.

"COVID boosted our numbers threefold," said Aaron Roberts, the CEO and founder of IV Bars, a national chain of IV hydration spas based in Texas. 

"The number of IV hydration clinics nationwide jumped to nearly 600 sites post-COVID."

He also said, "More people became aware of the importance of treating dehydration and boosting the immune system."

With the sudden growth of these spas came greater scrutiny by health care associations.

Connie Sullivan, president and CEO of the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) in Alexandria, Virginia, shared a statement with Fox News Digital. 

"The NHIA has serious concerns about the way states are allowing IV spas and hydration clinics to operate without appropriate licensure or oversight."

She added, "The vast majority of the compounded IV solutions being made and marketed by these entities have no scientific evidence supporting their safety or use in healthy individuals and potentially diverts drugs in shortage away from patients who have legitimate medical needs and require these products to live."

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In response to the pushback, Lopez — of IV Bars in North Carolina — released a statement to Fox News Digital about the controversy surrounding IV hydration bars.

"Even though vitamin supplements are not FDA-approved, we still adhere to medical board regulations when administering IVs to our clients," she said. 

"We are licensed by the state and have medical director oversight at each of our locations."

Lopez said that highly trained, licensed registered nurses and paramedics staff the IV Bar locations.

"We also uphold standards when it comes to our vitamins, as we only use 503B compounding pharmacies that derive their vitamins from natural sources with no synthetic product or fillers," she added.

IV hydration services could help alleviate the strain on hospital emergency departments by preventing health issues caused by significant dehydration, said Lopez.

Still, hydration bars should not be used like hospital emergency rooms, Lopez said. 

If patients appear to be in distress, they are immediately referred to their health care professional or to an emergency department.

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It is important for individuals to vet an IV fluid hydration spa before getting treatment, multiple health experts said. 

That means ensuring that a licensed nurse, physician assistant or paramedic is administering the IV; asking about infection protocols; verifying that the vitamins and solutions are from a legitimate medical supply company; and asking whether a medical doctor oversees the site.

"While the IV hydration sites might make you feel better, they aren't FDA-approved," Dr. Fred Davis, an associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

"This means they are not regulated the same way medications would be," he went on. 

"There are also no clinically validated studies that confirm IV hydration therapy actually does what it claims to do."

It is also important to recognize signs of dehydration, Davis noted. 

These include fatigue, dry mouth, decreased urination and thirst. It can also lead to elevated heart rates in some cases.

To stay hydrated, Davis emphasized the importance of drinking plenty of water. 

He recommends six to eight 8-ounce glasses per day for those who don’t have a medical condition that requires the restriction of fluids.

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AI helps dentists catch more cavities and gum disease: It's 'unbiased' and gives 'more accurate' diagnoses

Gum disease (periodontitis) affects more than 47% of Americans — or nearly 65 million people — including former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez, who recently announced he has the condition.

As artificial intelligence continues to expand into dental and medical uses, dentists are relying on the technology to quickly and accurately detect and prevent periodontitis, decay, bone loss and other gum health issues.

Now, VideaHealth, a medical technology company in Boston, has created a dental AI platform that is available to 90% of dental practices in the U.S., the company said. 

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The FDA-approved system analyzes patients’ X-ray images using an algorithm trained on hundreds of millions of data points — more than 50 times the number of X-rays most dentists see in their lifetime, according to the company — to provide treatment recommendations for patients.

"VideaAI lets dentists examine X-rays for cavities and radiographic bone level findings, comparing them against our AI algorithms," Boston-based Florian Hillen, VideaHealth’s founder and CEO and an AI research fellow at Harvard Business School, told Fox News Digital. 

With traditional dental screenings, X-ray analysis is used for diagnosis and treatment planning — but 50% of dental decay is missed and 30% results in wrongful diagnosis, he also said.

His company's system "identifies 43% more cavities and reduces the error rate of misdiagnosis by 50%, and also reduces false positives by 15%," he said. 

"Our analysis enables more accurate diagnoses and better preventative care."

In addition to enabling faster, more accurate findings, VideaAI also gives dentists the data and confidence to engage better with their patients, Hillen said.

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"It also helps dentists achieve more streamlined workflows in their offices, resulting in reduced human error and mistakes," he added.

For patients, the AI tool helps to improve their dental health by catching cavities, abscesses, lesions and oral diseases before these issues evolve into much larger problems. 

"With the right dental care, the risk of medical complications from diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses can be significantly decreased," Hillen said.

AI also helps increase patients’ trust by showing them "the complete picture," Hillen said.

"Today, a lot of dental relationships are asymmetric," he said. "Patients don’t know if they need the X-rays or the treatment plan — and sometimes they want a treatment they don’t need."

Historically, patients don’t always accept their dentists’ recommendations, Hillen pointed out — "the majority of the time, they don’t," he said. 

As a result, the dental issues continue to worsen until there is a significant issue.

"You wouldn’t walk around with an infection in your finger — you’d treat it and deal with the issue immediately," he said. 

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"So why do so many adults walk around with mouth infections? And do they even know they’re increasing their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac issues and dementia?"

Hillen said he sees AI as "the great equalizer" in that it can provide an unbiased, data-driven analysis that the dentist and patient can review and discuss together.

"With AI, findings are easier to explain to patients, who trust their dentists more — which means patients are more likely to move forward with necessary treatments rather than delay care," he said.

A dental service organization in Boston called 42 North Dental was one of the earliest adopters of the VideaAI tool.

"We're big believers in technology and aiding our doctors to provide the best care possible," the company’s chief clinical officer, Boston-based Michael A. Scialabba, DDS, told Fox News Digital. 

"AI is essential for practitioners because it is unbiased, and it provides us with the opportunity to identify lesions that we might miss without it."

When 42 North Dental started reviewing dental AI options, the dentists first examined 100+ images with the naked eye.

When they viewed those same images again with VideaAI, they found nearly 20% more cavities, Scialabba said.

The practice has also seen its treatment acceptance rates increase by 20%.

"The common misconception is that dentists overdiagnose, but this is not accurate," Scialabba said. 

Rather, he said, dentists "are conservative, and underdiagnosis is the bigger issue. VideaAI can help us see issues before they are visible to the naked eye, so we can offer recommendations and stave off bigger issues."

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Implementing AI has helped 42 North Dental prevent mistakes, reduce missed diagnoses and improve oral health by detecting cavities and early bone loss, which is an indication of gum disease, Scialabba said. 

"This will help drive better overall health and reduce instances of chronic diseases," he said. "Increasingly, AI in dentistry can help detect and prevent issues ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease and early-onset dementia."

He added, "This isn't aspirational — this is the truth."

The practice's patients have also enjoyed having a clearer, more visual window into their own dental health, Scialabba said.

"Patients now have an unbiased and data-backed understanding of their X-rays and diagnosis," he said. "AI takes out the emotion and bias for both the dentist and the patient, and provides a straightforward way to talk about treatment plans using just the facts."

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He added, "This approach puts more control into the hands of patients, so they can make the smartest and most meaningful decision for their oral care."

More than a year after implementing VideaAI, 42 North Dental is now in the process of rolling out the tech to all of its locations.

While dental AI has been shown to improve outcomes for patients and efficiency for practices, it’s not meant to replace trained professionals, experts say.

"Dentists and hygienists will always remain a critical part of the equation in disease diagnostics, as they have the context of years of experience, patient histories and in-person examinations," Scialabba told Fox News Digital.

"At the end of the day, it’s a combination of AI and using human experience — a tool for the dentists to use," he added.

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Beyond just analyzing X-rays, Scialabba said that clinicians serve as their patients' collaborators, advisers, educators and partners — and AI helps them deliver the best care possible.

"The clinical experience and insights dental professionals bring to the table cannot be underestimated, but the AI offers objective, consistent observations to consider when making their decisions and recommendations," he added.

from Health News Today on Fox News https://ift.tt/Q7jgSB5

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