Lunit, Australian State Government Breast Cancer Screening AI Implementation Progressing Smoothly

Medical artificial intelligence (AI) company Lunit announced on the 11th that it has successfully completed the first phase and commenced the second phase of the National Breast Cancer Screening Program ‘Breast Screen NSW (BSNSW)’ operated by the New South Wales (NSW) state government in Australia, for which it won the operating rights last November.

Lunit's AI imaging analysis solution for mammography, 'Lunit Insight MMG'
[Photo by Lunit]

BSNSW is the world’s first case of introducing AI solutions in a national-level cancer screening program. Led by Sydney, the NSW state government provides free breast cancer screening to all women aged 40 and over residing in the state through this project. Lunit explained that during the first phase of the overall three-phase project, approximately 650,000 mammography images were analyzed using its AI image analysis solution ‘Lunit Insight MMG,’ successfully demonstrating the technology’s accuracy and reliability.

In the ongoing second phase, additional validation will be conducted over about six months until June next year, utilizing approximately 200,000 screening data. This phase involves optimization and prospective validation of the Lunit solution before actual deployment. In particular, evaluation of the recently FDA-approved 3-dimensional (3D) breast tomosynthesis AI image analysis solution ‘Lunit Insight DBT’ is also planned during this process. In the final third phase, BSNSW medical staff will perform screenings using Lunit Insight MMG.

Upon successful completion of all validation processes by August next year, Lunit is expected to secure the operating rights of BSNSW for the next five years until 2029 without additional bidding, which is anticipated to lead to stable revenue growth. Alongside this, Lunit plans to strive for securing operating rights for national breast cancer screening programs not only across NSW but also throughout Australia, as well as in Asia, Oceania, and Europe.

Seob Beom-seok, CEO of Lunit, stated, “Lunit being the first in the world to be adopted in a national breast cancer screening program holds significance beyond a mere technological achievement,” adding, “This project will serve as a case highlighting the important role of AI in breast cancer diagnosis and is expected to become a stepping stone to set new standards for cancer screening in the public healthcare market going forward.”