VUNO said Wednesday that its AI-based chest X-ray image reading aid, VUNO Med-Chest X-ray, has obtained medical device certification from the Saudi Food and Drug Administration.

It is VUNO's first case of obtaining a medical device license in the Middle East, based on which the company plans to enter the regional market.

Saudi Arabia selected the medical industry as one of the key investment industries of "Vision 2030" and is actively investing to diversify the medical sector and promote strong privatization. In addition, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health plans to foster the healthcare industry through its National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020, a part of Vision 2030.

The country aims to achieve it by developing the digital medical industry, computerized patient information, and the expansion of medical facilities. The company said that Korea is one of the five major partners of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and both countries will continue cooperating in various fields of health and medical care.

VUNO Med-Chest X-ray is an AI solution that detects major abnormalities, such as nodules, sclerosis, epileptic shades, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax, with high accuracy in chest X-ray images. In addition, it helps diagnose major lung diseases, including tuberculosis and pneumonia, by presenting the name and location of abnormal findings to medical workers.

The technology is one of the main products actively used in medium- and large-size hospitals here and abroad. VUNO is accelerating its entry into overseas markets by obtaining medical device licenses in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Thailand, along with European CE certification.

"This Saudi Arabian medical device certification is the first case of VUNO's licensing in the Middle East and will serve as the cornerstone for targeting the digital healthcare market with great growth potential,” VUNO CEO Lee Ye-ha said, “We will continue to help medical staff in clinical sites around the world.”