Conceptual diagram of “Olink Explore” service advancement by RIKEN GENESIS and Hitachi

RIKEN GENESIS CO., LTD. (hereafter, RIKEN GENESIS) and Hitachi Ltd. (hereafter, Hitachi) have advanced the quantitative protein analysis “Olink Explore*2” provided by RIKEN Genesis by utilizing Hitachi's explainable AI “B3*1” and generative AI, and began providing it as a new service (hereafter, this service) to academia and pharmaceutical companies starting today. “Olink Explore” is a technology that can comprehensively analyze a large number of proteins (currently approximately 3000 types and up) on trace samples (mainly serum/plasma), and RIKEN GENESIS provides services domestically and internationally. This service combines the vast amount of output information from “Olink Explore” with analysis utilizing Hitachi's own “B3” and generative AI, to speed up elucidation of drug effects and mechanisms of disease onset, and search for novel protein biomarkers*3. Furthermore, it is planned that integrated analysis (multi-omics analysis) by combining data on various substances other than proteins, such as general blood test items and genes, will also be possible in the future. This will contribute to the development of next-generation medical care, starting with personalized medicine.
Furthermore, from 2024/3/5, both companies carried out a PoC to analyze output information from “Olink Explore” with “B3” and generative AI, and it has been confirmed that information on interactions between diseases and gene/protein can be obtained and retrieved more quickly than before.

backgrounds

Since there are individual differences in how pharmaceuticals work and whether adverse events that worsen the quality of life occur even in patients with the same illness, research and development has progressed in recent years aimed at realizing “personalized medicine (custom-made medicine)” tailored to the individual patient's constitution and state of illness. Under these circumstances, in order to select appropriate treatment for each patient, research is actively being conducted to search for bioindicators “biomarkers” such as proteins and genes from various patient data that appropriately evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment.
When searching for substances that are candidates for protein biomarkers from patient serum/plasma, there is a limit to the types of proteins that can be measured from a single sample amount using conventional methods. However, by utilizing “Olink Explore,” which RIKEN GENESIS develops a contract service, it is possible to detect more types of proteins. On the other hand, in order to extract necessary results from output information, careful data cleansing is necessary, and it takes a long time to work. In particular, in the enrichment analysis*4, the results were sometimes enormous, and interpretation took time.
Since 2019, Hitachi has been providing the Lumada*5 solution “Hitachi Digital Solution for Pharma/Biomarker Search Service” using “B3,” and has a track record of supporting gene function and biomarker searches based on large amounts of data about the same as the number of proteins that can be measured with “Olink Explore.” Additionally, the work of investigating the relationship between gene function and disease obtained from AI has been streamlined by utilizing generative AI.
Therefore, the two companies thought that it would be possible to further support biomarker search operations by using “B3” and generative AI to analyze the output data of “Olink Explore,” where RIKEN GENESIS develops a contract service, and began collaboration.
With advances in biotechnology and IT, and the advent of an aging society, Hitachi is focusing on the healthcare field. Above all, in the biopharmaceutical field, we aim to contribute to shortening the time and cost reduction of the entire drug discovery process by combining domain knowledge with products, OT*6, and IT, which have a wealth of experience over many years, and this collaboration with RIKEN Genesis is part of that.

Features of this service

It is a service that provides analysis using Hitachi's explainable AI “B3” and generative AI as an option for quantitative protein analysis “Olink Explore.”

1. “Olink Explore,” which has extensive global analysis experience
   Comprehensive quantitative protein analysis using “Olink Explore” by Olink Proteomics Co., Ltd. is an analysis solution that combines immunoassay*7 with a next generation sequencer (NGS) *8, and combines both high multiplex*9 and extremely high specificity. Since this technology can comprehensively analyze thousands of proteins from trace samples, it is expected to be used in various phases of drug development, such as searching for drug discovery targets, stratification of patients in clinical trials, and biomarker search in clinical research after marketing. “Olink Explore” has an analysis record of over 0.05 million people at UK Biobank*10, and has also been used in Japan for Biobank Japan (BBJ) and research on the novel coronavirus infection.
2. The results derived by AI can be explained
   Since “B3” can express a nonlinear analysis model with a simple linear model, it is easy for people to interpret “why AI gave that answer,” and it is effective for making decisions in medical care and drug discovery settings.
3. Analysis is possible even when the sample size of the data is small
   “B3” incorporates a unique mechanism for dimensional compression and overlearning suppression, and it is possible to maintain accuracy even in research with a small number of specimens.
4. Compatible with multi-biomarker exploration
   In clinical settings, it is also compatible with searching for biomarkers (multi-biomarkers) that combine multiple factors to improve predictive performance for diseases with complex pathophysiology and diseases with high heterogeneity.
5. Preparation of summary reports of enrichment analysis results using generative AI
   Using generative AI, literature on gene function obtained through enrichment analysis is investigated, and report materials summarizing graphs, tables, and summaries are prepared and appended. This shortens the man-hours and time required to investigate the relationship between gene function and disease.
6. Experience of use in academia and pharmaceutical companies
   “B3” has been used in domestic academia and pharmaceutical companies for applications such as risk factor search.

related info

About RIKEN GENESIS

RIKEN GENESIS provides contract gene analysis services and products utilizing cutting-edge genetic analysis technology and bioinformatics, and is one of the few Japanese companies that possess technology, experience, and know-how in personalized medicine.
In 2007, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (hereafter, “Toppan Printing”), RIKEN Venture Capital Co., Ltd. collaborated with RIKEN Venture Capital Co., Ltd. to expand RIKEN's cutting-edge research results in personalized medicine to a wide range of society and promote practical application in medical settings. In 2014, Toppan Printing and Sysmex Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Sysmex”) agreed to cooperate with each other to develop the genetic testing business in personalized medicine, and each invested in RIKEN GENESIS. Furthermore, in 2016, it became a subsidiary of Sysmex in order to realize clinical implementation of genomic medicine.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi is promoting social innovation projects that realize a sustainable society through data and technology. We solve customer and social issues through Lumada solutions that utilize IT, OT (control/operation technology), and products under a three-sector business system: “digital systems & services” that support customer DX; “green energy & mobility” that contributes to the realization of a decarbonized society through energy and railways; and “Connected Industries,” which digitally connects products in a wide range of industries and provides solutions . Driven by digital, green, and innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with customers. Sales revenue for the three sectors for fiscal year 2023 (fiscal year ending 2024/3) was 8,564.3 billion yen, and as of the end of March 2024, there are 573 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 270,000 employees worldwide.

Contact information

RIKEN GENESIS CO., LTD. Sales Department

Hitachi, Ltd. Industrial Digital Business Unit