[15] Perple (Rep: Dr. Takafumi Kubota)

Technology

Combining genetic data from 150,000 individuals with extensive clinical data to drive world-leading personalized medicine research for epilepsy. Developing new medical services targeting the brain disease "epilepsy"

  • Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that causes seizures, such as convulsions and loss of consciousness, affecting 1 in 100 people
  • Even if epileptic seizures occur only once every two years for a few minutes, patients face significant life challenges, including driving bans, work restrictions, and societal prejudice, profoundly impacting their quality of life

Strength

Tohoku University is leveraging its extensive medical data to develop unique AI for personalized drug selection support

  • Tohoku University's "Tohoku Medical Megabank" houses data from 150,000 residents, including genetic, health, and lifestyle information. This data supports personalized medicine, the development of new treatments and drugs, and research into disease prevention methods
  • Additionally, Tohoku University is home to one of Japan's most renowned epilepsy centers, with a wealth of clinical data on epilepsy patients

Perple is driven by a passionate commitment to improving the lives of epilepsy patients and supported by an interdisciplinary team dedicated to translating research into practical medical services. Daily discussions are held from diverse perspectives to ensure the successful implementation of research into society

  • The founder, Kubota, was inspired to become a physician by personal experience as a family member of an epilepsy patient. Motivated to create a fulfilling life for epilepsy patients, he established Perple
  • Perple is a team of graduate students from Tohoku University's medical program, specializing in areas such as epilepsy, genomics, medical AI, and nursing

Use Case

  • Diagnosis of epilepsy and identification of its specific types
  • Recommendation of optimal medications based on genetic information
  • Exploration of new treatment methods for epilepsy, including gene therapy

Business Model Examples

This section shows examples of companies using this technology for its businesses. The sections is intened for illustrating how the technology is used in the real world as food for thoughs for the applicants. Applicants doesn't necessarily follow the exact business model when developing their own business ideas.

Perple

*yet to start the business

Business Contents

Perple aims to develop and commercialize new medical services for epilepsy patients and hospitals, leveraging cutting-edge research in personalized epilepsy medicine from Tohoku University. These medical services will seek regulatory approval as medical devices, with the ultimate goal of delivering Perple's innovative solutions to epilepsy patients not only in Japan but worldwide

Business Moodel

Doctors will order Perple's service from their hospital's PC. They will collect a blood sample from the patient and send it to Perple. Perple analyzes the patient's blood and returns a clear, comprehensible report to the doctor. Using the patient's genetic data provided in the report, the doctor can offer more personalized and effective treatment. Perple receives payment from the hospital, while the hospital charges the patient for the consultation

Social Issues

Finding the optimal medication for epilepsy patients is challenging

  • There are dozens of medications available for epilepsy, but doctors must choose the best one from an almost infinite number of combinations
  • During the trial-and-error process to find the optimal combination, seizures may worsen, or severe side effects may occur
  • Approximately 30% of epilepsy patients have drug-resistant epilepsy, meaning seizures persist even when multiple medications are used

Research has shown that considering genetic data can significantly reduce seizures and side effects, but less than 1% of patients currently receive care that incorporates genetic data

  • Currently, medication selection is based on factors such as age, gender, seizure type, EEG results, and imaging tests
  • Adding genetic information into the decision-making process could reduce seizures by 60% and side effects by 10%. However, this approach remains underutilized

Solution

Developing a gene testing panel and drug selection support AI tailored specifically for epilepsy patients

  • Lowering barriers to genetic testing: By creating a simple and affordable gene testing panel, access to genetic testing becomes more feasible for patients and healthcare providers
  • Simplifying interpretation: Genetic test results are typically presented as complex sequences of symbols, making them challenging to decipher. The AI will transform these results into clear, actionable recommendations for healthcare professionals

Value

Providing epilepsy patients with opportunities for better medical care to help them lead fulfilling lives

  • Offering a new medical approach to epilepsy, which affects 1 in 100 people
  • Contributing to the widespread use of genetic data in medical applications

Message from the Lab

Message

Representative: Dr. Takafumi Kubota

Medical laws differ across countries, so challenges and solutions applicable to Japan may not necessarily be the same elsewhere. Therefore, you are not bound by our ideas or constraints. We encourage you to explore the challenges faced by epilepsy patients in your country and to think of solutions from a broader perspective. We look forward to hearing your ideas on how to help epilepsy patients lead fulfilling lives

Desired Candidate Profile

We welcome individuals from any country, but those from Asia with genetic similarities to Japan may find greater synergy with this project
Individuals with a strong passion for addressing medical challenges
Those willing to go beyond desk work by conducting field observations and interviews to explore the needs of patients and healthcare providers

Reference