IBM and Roche Co-Created an Innovative Solution to Support People with Diabetes in their Daily Lives with AI-Enabled Glucose Predictions

IBM and Roche announced that they have developed an AI-enabled solution to ease the daily diabetes management: Roche’s Accu-Chek SmartGuide Predict app. This solution underpins the importance of cross-industry collaboration and teamwork to support people with diabetes in their daily lives and the provision of healthcare. The solution, which was launched in Switzerland a few months ago, is one of the case studies that will be presented during this year’s Swiss Economic Forum in Interlaken, Switzerland, on June 5-6. The project is a good example for digital innovation and successful cross-industry partnerships.

Roche’s Accu-Chek SmartGuide Predict app, resulting from the combination of the extensive healthcare and digital expertise of the companies, is designed to enable people with diabetes to better manage their glycemic control with the help of an AI-enabled solution. Being paired with Roche’s Accu-Chek SmartGuide continuous glucose monitoring sensor, the Accu-Chek SmartGuide Predict app uses predictive algorithms informed by real-time glucose values and allows for insights to improve glycemic control and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

Both companies joined forces to address the unmet needs of people with diabetes in their everyday therapy routine, such as fear of hypoglycemia or nocturnal hypoglycemia. The AI-powered features of the Accu-Chek SmartGuide Predict app are designed to support patients with actionable information, empowering them to make preventive therapy decisions, and take proactive interventions. The app utilizes Roche’s real-time CGM sensor data and user-entered information to assist people with diabetes with three key predictive functionalities that all show state-of-the-art accuracy and performance:

Manual analysis of clinical study data can be time-consuming and resource intensive. To expedite this process, IBM and Roche developed a custom tool using advanced technologies like large language models on IBM’s data and AI platform IBM watsonx. The tool enhances the workflow and thus reduces the time required for analyzing study data, digitizing, translating, and categorizing anonymized, unstructured clinical data. By linking CGM data with participants' daily activities, the tool helps to identify notable deviations and correlations, enhancing the overall study analysis.

The Accu-Chek SmartGuide Predict app and the study analysis tool are good examples of successful collaboration between IBM and Roche. They highlight the importance of combining scientific approaches with domain expertise in healthcare and technology.

“By harnessing the power of AI-enabled predictive technology, Roche’s Accu-Chek SmartGuide Predict App can help empower people with diabetes to take proactive measures to manage their disease," says Moritz Hartmann, Head of Roche Information Solutions.” Our long-standing partnership with IBM underscores the potential of cross-industry innovation in addressing unmet healthcare needs and bringing significant advancements to patients faster. Using cutting-edge technology such as AI and machine learning helps us to accelerate time to market and to improve therapy outcomes at the same time.”

“The collaboration with Roche underlines the potential of AI when it’s implemented with a clear goal - assisting patients in managing their diabetes. With our technology and consulting expertise we can offer a trusted, customized and secure technical environment that is essential to enable innovation in healthcare.”, adds Christian Keller, General Manager, IBM Switzerland.

Source: IBM and Roche media announcement