[JPM2025] ‘Global pharma showed interest in Mediwhale after we verified AI diagnostic solution Dr. Noon’

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- By Kim Chan-hyuk/Korea Biomedical Review correspondent -- Mediwhale is accelerating its global expansion, starting with supplying its “Dr. Noon CVD” to Glucare, a diabetes clinic in Dubai, last year.

At the 43rd J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM 2025) in San Francisco last Thursday (local time), Mediwhale CEO Choi Tae-geun and COO Nina Shin said that their recent participation in a series of global events confirmed the interest in Dr. Noon CVD and the importance of preventive healthcare.

Mediwhale CEO Choi Tae-geun Choi discussed the company’s progress and plans during an interview with Korea Biomedical Review last Thursday (local time) at the 43rd J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Calif.

“At various global events, including the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, which we participated in for the first time this year, Dr. Noon, our retina-based cardiovascular disease prediction AI software, has received high interest,” CEO Choi said. “Our progress in the Middle East market is leading to new global partnerships.”

Choi explained that collaboration with Glucare is a stepping stone to global expansion. Mediwhale entered the Middle East market last November by signing a contract to supply Dr. Noon CVD (cardiovascular disease) to Glucare, a diabetes management clinic in Dubai.

“A large global pharmaceutical company first requested to meet with us after experiencing our solution at Glucare,” Choi said.

Mediwhale, selected last year as a member company of “JLABS,” a global accelerator platform run by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, visited the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference for the first time this year with the support of JLABS.

Mediwhale has expanded its global networks by participating in CES 2024 in Las Vegas, the JPM Healthcare Conference, the Biotech Showcase, Global IR@JPM, and Bio Partnering@JPM, organized by KoreaBIO, an industry group.

Notably, the company presented to about 100 investors at the United Korean Forum (UKF), a networking event for Korean startup founders.

“At both CES and the JPM Healthcare Conference, medical panelists emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare in unison,” COO Shin said. “This was especially evident at the Oura Ring session at CES, where it was covered in depth and was deeply resonated by major U.S. hospital chains. We could reaffirm that our direction is exactly in line with the needs of the times.”

“Primary medical institutions cannot afford expensive equipment, including ultrasound devices, and Dr. Noon can be an alternative,” CEO Choi said. “Even tertiary hospitals can benefit from immediate screening when CT appointments are pushed back up to three months.”

This year, Mediwhale will also focus on expanding its business in countries with medical device certifications, including the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia. “As in the case of Glucare, our experience in each region will be synergized,” COO Shin said. “We will pursue further business expansion in markets where we have already obtained certifications.”

Mediwhale COO Nina Shin

Expansion into the U.S. is also in full swing. “We expect to obtain FDA approval by the end of this year or in the first half of next year,” Choi said. “After getting approval, we will focus on building partnerships with companies that make medical testing devices more accessible for practical market entry.”

In Korea, Dr. Noon CVD has recorded more than 10,000 prescriptions as of November last year, and usage has continued to increase recently.

“We are actively researching to expand coverage to other organ diseases that diabetics are vulnerable to, including cardiovascular, kidney, and eye diseases,” Choi said. “We will present new clinical evidence at major conferences, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), this year.”