Raquitool, the app that supports clinicians in the evaluation of rickets

Kyowa Kirin's contribution to the evaluation of rickets

Rickets is a disease that affects bone development in children and adolescents, typically caused by deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus. This condition can lead to growth problems and bone deformities that significantly impact the quality of life of the young individuals affected. Globally, it is estimated that rickets affects approximately 1% of the pediatric population, although this figure may vary depending on the region and associated risk factors.

Specialists involved in the diagnosis and treatment of rickets include pediatricians, endocrinologists, and pediatric nephrologists, who work closely together to address the complexities of this disease.

Kyowa Kirin is a renowned Japanese pharmaceutical company specializing in the development of therapies for rare diseases and severe medical conditions. In the context of rickets, it has developed specific treatments for a hereditary form known as "X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets" (XLH), which is not caused by a vitamin D deficiency, but by an imbalance in phosphorus levels in the body.

In July 2022, Kyowa Kirin launched a new project for Spain and Portugal in collaboration with Navandu, a leading company in the creation of innovative digital products and services for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, which has recently integrated into the SNGULAR group. The goal of this joint effort is to develop an application for the evaluation of rickets, designed to assist in the assessment of patients suspected of having this disease, which often presents significant diagnostic challenges.

According to Nerea Eloy Giménez, Marketing Director for the Southern Europe cluster of Kyowa Kirin's Rare Diseases franchise, "Raquitool is proving to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of different types of rickets, providing great clarity to professionals on the appropriateness of conducting confirmatory genetic studies."

Nerea Eloy Giménez

Marketing Director for the Southern Europe cluster of the Kyowa Kirin franchise, specializing in Rare Diseases

Raquitool, the application that helps clinical professionals prevent errors in rickets evaluation

The main goal of Raquitool is to simplify and enhance the accuracy of the process of evaluating patient lab results that may indicate rickets-related abnormalities, particularly in the management of phosphorus in the kidneys, a key factor in this disease.

Rickets can have various causes, and some of its more complex forms involve dysfunctions in how the body manages phosphorus, especially in childhood. This means that, to reach an accurate diagnosis, the doctor needs to carefully assess several parameters in each patient's laboratory results. This is where Raquitool stands out as a crucial support tool.

Evaluation of phosphorus management abnormalities

One of Raquitool's strengths is its ability to detect patterns of phosphorus level abnormalities in the data, a common feature in some types of rickets. This means that the doctor can gain insights to help determine whether the anomalies are due to improper renal phosphorus handling, which could suggest a specific form of rickets, such as hypophosphatemic rickets.

Automation of complex calculations

The application automates calculations that would otherwise require the doctor's manual intervention, thus reducing both analysis time and the margin for human error. Instead of using nomograms or performing manual calculations to interpret phosphorus levels in blood or urine, Raquitool presents the results quickly and directly, allowing the doctor to immediately identify any abnormalities.

Assistance in deciding on confirmatory genetic studies

For some patients, doctors may consider genetic studies as an additional step in the study of rickets. Raquitool provides information based on patterns of results that reflect the potential usefulness of such tests, offering relevant data for approaching confirmatory genetic tests for specific types of rickets.

Does Not Record Sensitive Data or Provide Specific Diagnoses or Treatments

Raquitool does not record sensitive data or provide specific diagnoses or treatments; its purpose is to assist the doctor in clinical evaluation and the understanding of different types of rickets. The application operates under strict privacy standards and does not allow the input of any personal data. While it does not track individuals or offer diagnostic or treatment recommendations, Raquitool is valuable in identifying abnormalities and simplifying complex calculations, minimizing the margin of error in the evaluation process.

Intuitive application with quick access to critical data

The application is designed with a focus on usability, ensuring that it is intuitive for healthcare professionals to use. From the main page, users can easily access key information about the patient's biochemical parameters compared to normal values. It also features tools such as a specific calculator for renal phosphorus management, as well as data on percentiles and standard deviations related to the patient's anthropometric measurements, including aspects like blood pressure and growth rate.

Complementary educational resource

Raquitool also offers a radiological assessment that evaluates the severity of rickets using the validated RSS (Rickets Severity Score) scale. Each section of the application is accompanied by bibliographic references that may be valuable for clinicians who wish to delve deeper into the topic. Therefore, Raquitool not only functions as an analytical tool but can also be considered an educational resource that supports the ongoing development of medical knowledge in the care of rickets.

How Raquitool contributes to the optimization of clinical practice

In an environment where doctors need speed and accuracy in their assessments, Raquitool emerges as a truly transformative digital solution. The application allows clinicians to accelerate calculations, making evaluations faster and more efficient. As a result, patients benefit from a more streamlined evaluation process.

Moreover, Raquitool becomes a decisive resource not only for Pediatric Nephrology units but also for specialists in Pediatric Endocrinology and General Pediatrics, who often encounter various manifestations of rickets, from delays in walking to bone pain, joint problems, or even dental complications. In this context, Raquitool serves as a valuable support tool by allowing different involved professionals to include and calculate multiple related variables, integrating them into their evaluation process and helping identify symptoms that might otherwise go unnoticed as indicators of rickets.

The accuracy that Raquitool provides is a key point in its clinical value. By automating complex calculations and evaluating specific patterns of phosphorus metabolism, the application not only reduces the margin for human error but also enables doctors to detect abnormalities that could be overlooked in a manual review. This precision is critical for making a more accurate and informed assessment, ultimately benefiting both the doctor and the patient by facilitating informed decision-making about potential additional tests, such as genetic studies.

Raquitool’s intuitive design makes it easy to use immediately while ensuring high precision by adapting its results to the specific needs of each center. This is due to its ability to handle various data formats and laboratory techniques. As Nerea Eloy explains, "Raquitool's ability to adapt to the different kits and laboratory equipment used in each medical center makes this application a highly customizable tool." Its flexibility allows it to integrate seamlessly with local clinical practices, providing results that accurately reflect the specific conditions of each environment, which is especially valuable in institutions with particular laboratory protocols and standards.

Impact of Raquitool since its launch

Since its launch, Raquitool has proven to be an effective and widely used tool in clinical practice, accumulating over 1,800 accesses from specialists in pediatric nephrology and endocrinology. Nerea Eloy confirms, "The most frequently used features include the analysis of normal range values for biochemical variables and the calculations related to renal phosphate management," highlighting the importance of these features in evaluating and supporting precise diagnoses. Additionally, the growing use of the report generation functionality suggests a high level of interaction and trust in the tool for documenting detailed results and supporting clinical judgment.

Nerea adds, "The usage figures we have seen since its launch highlight the relevance of these features in the evaluation and diagnostic support that Raquitool provides."

What role does technology play in managing rare diseases like rickets?

The use of calculators in clinical practice is common, but doctors often face calculations and conversions that can be complex. These processes not only consume time but also increase the risk of errors that can affect patient care. The integration of applications and digital solutions in healthcare not only improves efficiency and accuracy in medical care but also empowers healthcare professionals with tools that facilitate the understanding, assessment, and management of various diseases.

Fernando Rojas, Director of the Health and Life Sciences Division at SNGULAR, highlights that "the trend is moving towards a more holistic and personalized approach to healthcare, which promises significantly better outcomes for patients. In the case of Raquitool, this tool not only alleviates the administrative burden on doctors but also minimizes the risk of errors in critical calculations. This translates into safer and more effective care for patients."

Kyowa Kirin has expressed satisfaction with Raquitool's contribution to their clients and patients, emphasizing the positive impact it has had on healthcare. "We are very pleased with the valuable assistance Raquitool is providing to our clients and patients, significantly improving the evaluation of a complex disease like rickets, and contributing to enhancing the quality of life for those affected," says Nerea Eloy.

A shared success in improving the quality of life for people

The collaboration between Kyowa Kirin and SNGULAR has been key to the success of Raquitool, raising the standard of care in the diagnosis and treatment of rickets. "We are very pleased with the contribution of the SNGULAR team for their dedication and the exceptional work done in the development and operations of this tool, which has elevated our leadership in this field to another level over the last two years," says Nerea.

At SNGULAR, we take pride in this collaboration, which reflects a strong commitment to innovation and the development of technological solutions that improve people's quality of life. The success of Raquitool is a clear example of how technology can be effectively integrated into healthcare, generating a real and positive impact on the diagnosis of both future and current rare diseases like this one.

Kyowa Kirin looks to the future with optimism, planning to expand its market presence and continue developing solutions that address the needs of patients affected by rare diseases. The Japanese company aims to consolidate its leadership in the sector, ensuring that tools like Raquitool remain a valuable resource for healthcare professionals.