Ehsan Vaghefi, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Toku, was raised by deaf parents who lost their hearing at the age of four due to congenital retinopathy. Growing up, his uncle’s involvement with the Blind Foundation in Iran exposed him to a community where many of his peers either had visual or hearing impairments.
Initially considering a career in medicine to assist individuals facing challenges similar to his father’s, Vaghefi later shifted his focus towards health technologies. His vision was to leverage systems to reach a broader population beyond what a single physician could achieve. This led to the inception of Toku, with a specific interest in retinal imaging and its medical applications.
Reflecting on his journey, Vaghefi acknowledged the limitations of a clinical practice constrained by time. His mission evolved to democratize healthcare through technological advancements and innovation. Alongside his role as an associate professor in Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Auckland, Vaghefi holds a notable record of five patents, 50 publications, and over $15 million in research grants dedicated to early disease detection through ocular imaging.
Driven by his childhood experiences, Vaghefi’s dedication lies in providing accessible and affordable disease screening for all, aiming to prevent children from witnessing their parents’ disabilities or premature passing.
Toku’s core focus revolves around the correlation between glaucoma and cardiovascular conditions. By examining a patient’s eyes, clinicians can gain insights into their circulatory health. The company’s flagship product, CLAiR, is an innovative IoT-powered retina scanning platform designed to detect cardiovascular risks such as stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Employing artificial intelligence, CLAiR interprets subtle signals from ocular images to assess heart disease risk, hypertension, and high cholesterol within 20 seconds. This integration with existing ocular scanning devices enables seamless incorporation of cardiovascular diagnostics into routine eye examinations.
While Toku secured an $8 million Series A funding round from National Vision in the U.S. and Topcon Healthcare in Japan, the company remains in its early developmental stages. Recently, the FDA granted CLAiR a “breakthrough device status,” streamlining its path to market approval.
Upon FDA clearance, Toku aims to introduce an affordable and non-invasive method for cardiovascular risk assessment, positioning itself as a pioneer in the U.S. healthcare sector. With a team of 20 employees, the company, initially founded in Auckland, New Zealand, has since relocated its headquarters to San Diego, California.
Toku’s strategic roadmap includes a mid-2024 prosecution launch leading up to a market release in 2025. Collaborations with industry partners like Topcon Healthcare and National Vision are underway to facilitate a smooth transition post-approval.
Notably, Toku joins a cohort of companies leveraging retinal analysis for cardiovascular disease prediction. While competitors like Google and Alphabet have explored similar AI-driven initiatives, Toku’s differentiated approach focuses on integrating CLAiR into diverse healthcare settings for widespread accessibility.
In preparation for its market debut, Toku plans to target wholesale optometry, primary care facilities, ophthalmology clinics, and pharmacies equipped with retinal cameras. The intended end users are asymptomatic adults undergoing regular eye exams, with potential referrals to primary care providers for further evaluation based on CLAiR’s findings.
Addressing privacy concerns, Toku emphasizes compliance with ISO 13483 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to safeguard patient data. The CEO affirms that patient information is strictly utilized for its intended purpose, with provisions for data deletion upon request. Toku’s infrastructure prioritizes data sovereignty across jurisdictions, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.
