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Samsung Medison buys AI medical startup Sonio for $93 mn

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(Captured from Samsung Medison website)

South Korea’s Samsung Medison, a medical equipment subsidiary of the leading global memory chipmaker Samsung Electronics Co., is taking over France’s Sonio SAS, a fetal ultrasound artificial intelligence (AI) software startup, for 126.5 billion won ($93 million).

Samsung Medison said on Wednesday it signed an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Sonio with aims to secure experienced AI developers in Europe and add the startup’s technology to its medical AI solution for better services.

The South Korean company expected the technology cooperation with Sonio to reduce diagnosis time and improve diagnosis quality.

“Collaboration with Sonio will bring together best-in-class ultrasound AI technology and reporting capabilities to bring a paradigm shift in the prenatal ultrasound exam,” said Samsung Medison CEO Kim Yong Kwan in a statement.

The deal was Samsung Medison’s first takeover since its establishment in 1985. The company, in which Samsung Electronics has a 68.45% stake, has been installing AI assistance functions in various medical sectors and expanding the application areas of ultrasound diagnostic devices.

TO STAY INDEPENDENT

Sonio will remain an independent company headquartered in France and will continue its commercial growth independently, while its products and services will remain compatible with all ultrasound device makers, Samsung Medison said.

Sonio founded in 2020 developed IT solutions and AI assistant features for obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound that assist medical professionals in the evaluation and documentation of ultrasound exams.

The startup obtained approval for Sonio Detect, which ensures high-quality images for fetal ultrasound images using machine learning technology, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2023.

Sonio secured another approval for its upgraded version from the authority and won large supply deals in the US.

“In addition to close collaboration with Samsung Medison, as an independent company, Sonio will continue to advance medical reporting technology and diagnostic software globally, including for underserved areas in healthcare,” Sonio CEO Cécile Brosset said.

By Jeong Min Nam

peux@hankyung.com

 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.

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