Vuno, Canon to target AI diagnostic market in Japan

South Korea's medical device startup Vuno announced on Monday that its Japanese partner M3AI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Canon Medical Systems to cooperate for sales in Japan. 

M3AI, specializing in medical AI marketing, holds the Japanese rights to Vuno's Vuno Med LungCT AI, a chest CT reading aid solution.

The MOU allows M3AI to reach over 30% of Japanese hospitals that use picture archiving and communication systems (PACS).

Both companies will collaborate in joint marketing using their AI sales networks in Japan. 

In March, the company said that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced revisions to the health insurance fee system, which will add more hospitals as customers.

To bolster the adoption of AI in healthcare, Japan has decided to broaden the range of medical institutions that can claim reimbursement for medical AI services.

This revision, slated to take effect in June, will make Vuno's products eligible for insurance coverage in Japan.

Write to Jeong Min Nam at peux@hankyung.com