AstraZeneca and Idoven launch the CONCERTO project to improve early diagnosis of patients with amyloidosis

The Hub's members AstraZeneca and Idoven have announced the launch of CONCERTO, a project aimed at improving the early diagnosis of patients with amyloidosis—a rare and frequently underdiagnosed disease due to its wide range of nonspecific symptoms.

The project is centered around the development and validation of a tailored artificial intelligence model capable of detecting amyloidosis through ECG analysis, integrated into Idoven's Willem™ platform. This technology is designed to identify patterns in ECGs that may signal the early presence of the disease—patterns that often go unnoticed even by experienced cardiologists.

"Many patients go through a long journey involving various medical consultations before receiving a definitive diagnosis. In some cases, it can take up to four years," explains Dr. Pablo García-Pavía, Head of the Inherited Cardiac Diseases Unit at Puerta de Hierro Hospital, researcher at the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) and CIBERCV, and Project Coordinator.

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a systemic disease in which abnormal protein deposits accumulate in organs such as the heart or nerves, severely affecting their function². Its symptoms often mimic those of more common conditions, complicating detection³. In fact, between 34% and 57% of patients are initially misdiagnosed, which delays access to appropriate treatment and worsens prognosis¹.

Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of amyloidosis may be significantly underestimated, particularly among older adults and patients with heart failure⁴.

"Investing in digital health innovation is key to transforming the diagnosis of complex diseases through AI-driven digital solutions," says Dr. César Velasco, Director of Innovation and Digital Strategy at AstraZeneca Spain. "This is why we are collaborating with Idoven—to improve early diagnosis and the patient journey."

As part of the CONCERTO project, Willem™ has been trained on thousands of ECGs from patients with confirmed amyloidosis diagnoses. The model is now entering an external validation phase in several European hospitals, including centers in Spain, France, and Italy, to assess its performance under real-world clinical conditions.

"Amyloidosis can be a devastating disease when not diagnosed in time. Thanks to this collaboration with AstraZeneca and leading hospitals, we aim to provide physicians with an AI tool that helps identify patients earlier and facilitates timely access to the right treatment," says Dr. Manuel Marina Breysse, Cardiologist, CEO and co-founder of Idoven.

References:

1. Rozenbaum MH, et al. Impact of Delayed Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis for Patients with Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM): A Targeted Literature Review. Cardiol Ther 2021; 10(1):141-59. doi: 10.1007/s40119-021-00219-5.

2. Nativi-Nicolau JN, et al. Screening for ATTR amyloidosis in the clinic: overlapping disorders, misdiagnosis, and multiorgan awareness. Heart Fail Rev. 2022;27(3):785-93. doi: 10.1007/s10741-021-10080-2.

3. Gertz M, et al. Avoiding misdiagnosis: expert consensus recommendations for the suspicion and diagnosis of transthyretin amyloidosis for the general practitioner. BMC Fam Pract. 2020;21(1):198. doi: 10.1186/s12875-020-01252-4.

4. Tana M, et al. Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Cardiac Amyloidosis in the Aging Heart. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25 (21): 11519. doi: 10.3390/ijms252111519