PR Team at Ubie, Inc.
Ubie, Inc. (Headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Co-founders: Yoshihiro Abe & Kota Kubo, hereinafter "Ubie") and Pfizer Japan Inc. (Headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President: Akihisa Harada, hereinafter "Pfizer") have started collaborating in October to assist people suffering from symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB), including urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). This collaboration integrates Ubie's web-based medical information service "Ubie AI Symptom Checker" and Pfizer's disease awareness site "UUI Consultation Room." This collaboration initiative was born from Pfizer's open innovation with startups, "Pfizer Healthcare Hub Japan" [1].
Difficult-to-discuss OAB Symptoms, Low Consultation Rates Among Women
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a symptom syndrome with urgency as a requisite symptom. Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) is one of the symptoms of OAB, characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate leading to involuntary leakage.
According to an epidemiological survey published in 2003 by the Japanese Continence Society [2], when applied to the 2012 population structure, it is estimated that 10.4 million men and women over 40 suffer from OAB, with 7.5 million experiencing UUI and 5.39 million experiencing UUI symptoms at least once a week. However, a survey [3] on the ease of discussing urinary symptoms with doctors showed that incontinence is the most challenging symptom to discuss for both men and women. The medical consultation rate among those with OAB symptoms is reported to be only 22.7% (36.4% for men and 7.7% for women) [2]. Despite over 10 million OAB patients, there is a hesitation to consult doctors, leading to delayed provider visits.
Information Provided by Both Companies: "Ubie AI Symptom Checker" and "UUI Consultation Room"
Ubie offers the "Ubie AI Symptom Checker," where individuals can use their smartphones or PCs to find healthcare providers for consultation about their symptoms. Pfizer operates the disease awareness site "UUI Consultation Room" to help individuals and families struggling with UUI and other OAB symptoms.
Aiming to Facilitate Early Provider Visits for Patients Struggling with OAB
To address the challenges faced by patients struggling with OAB, both companies collaborate to provide information about OAB. In this collaboration, when visitors to "Ubie AI Symptom Checker" report symptoms related to OAB, information about OAB and a link to Pfizer's "UUI Consultation Room" will be displayed. This link provides access to comprehensive information about OAB, including UUI. Additionally, the "UUI Consultation Room" homepage displays a link to "Ubie AI Symptom Checker," allowing visitors to search for nearby urology and related healthcare providers after responding to related symptoms. Both companies aim to enhance information provision to patients and contribute to those suffering from OAB symptoms, including UUI.
References
[1] Pfizer Healthcare Hub Japan is a global open innovation initiative by Pfizer, collaborating with startups that offer digital health technologies and services, aiming to provide better solutions for patients. Ubie presented at pitch events in November 2018 and August 2020. Following these events, discussions between both companies led to this collaboration. URL: https://www.pfizer.co.jp/pfizer/development/innovation/healthcarehub.html
[2] Honma Yukio et al.: Japanese Continence Society Journal 14 (2): 266, 2003
[3] Toyama Manabu et al.: Journal of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 24 (1): 108, 2009
About Ubie
Ubie is a health-tech startup founded by a medical doctor and an engineer in 2017 and based in Japan, Singapore, and New York. Using AI as its core technology, the company develops and provides an AI-powered patient questionnaire that guides patients from symptoms to appropriate medical care and improves operational efficiency in the medical field. Ubie is promoting the creation of a society in which anyone can access medical care that suits them best.
Company website: http://ubiehealth.com/company
Ubie AI Symptom Checker (US version): https://ubiehealth.com
Ubie AI Symptom Checker (Japanese version): https://ubie.app
About UUI Consultation Room
This site provides a wide range of information for patients with OAB and their families, including the causes and management of UUI and other OAB symptoms, voices from doctors and patients about medical consultations, the flow of examinations and consultations, and helpful information about urinary incontinence and frequent urination. The site also offers a "Questionnaire Sheet" to help patients communicate difficult-to-discuss symptoms with doctors, thus contributing to patients troubled by OAB symptoms, including UUI. URL: https://www.oab-info.com/
Contact
Shoko Suzuki
Ubie Inc.
Tel: +65-9610-7428
Email: pr@ubiehealth.com