Lunit inks Samsung deal on AI-powered medical screening

Medical AI startup Lunit signed a three-year supply contract with Samsung Electronics to provide two AI-powered chest screening software products on Samsung's X-ray devices, it said on Tuesday.

Screen image of Lunit's AI-powered chest screening software, Lunit Insight CXR [LUNIT]

Medical AI startup Lunit signed a three-year supply contract with Samsung Electronics to provide two AI-powered chest screening software products on Samsung's X-ray devices, it said on Tuesday.

The contract price to provide AI screening solutions to Samsung devices for three years is $1.86 million.

The two Lunit products are Lunit Insight CXR and Lunit Insight CXR Triage. Lunit Insight CXR can detect and diagnose 10 radiologic abnormalities in the breast and lung areas from a chest x-ray. Lunit Insight CXR Triage uses the same images to immediately detect the level of severity of pre-specified critical abnormalities such as pleural effusion and pneumothorax.

Samsung devices loaded with Lunit software will be sold overseas, beginning with the North American and European markets to regions in the Middle East, South America and Southeast Asia.

"The synergy between Lunit and Samsung Electronics will enable faster, more accurate chest screenings, leading to timely interventions and improved patient outcomes,” said Lunit CEO Suh Beom-seok in a statement. “We’re excited about the potential this partnership holds for advancing chest X-ray practices, particularly in ICUs and ERs.”

Lunit believes that Lunit Insight CXR Triage will garner attention from hospitals where patients require urgent care, as it can quickly and precisely recognize critical findings.

Lunit software will also be installed within devices of Samsung Electronics’ in-house hospital in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]