Dive Brief:
- GE HealthCare has struck a deal to buy brain analysis business Icometrix for an undisclosed sum, the companies said Wednesday.
- Icometrix received 510(k) clearance for its brain imaging software in 2016. The company went on to receive clearances for modules with specific uses, including technology for detecting known side effects of recently launched Alzheimer’s disease drugs.
- GE HealthCare focused on the Alzheimer’s module in its statement about the deal. The company plans to expand access to the module on all vendor MRI systems via commercial distribution and clinical integration.
Dive Insight:
The approvals of Eisai and Biogen’s Leqembi and Eli Lilly’s Kisunla advanced the treatment of Alzheimer's for the first time in decades. However, the antibodies can cause amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, or ARIA, forms of swelling or bleeding in the brain that are visible on MRI scans. Icometrix developed its Alzheimer’s module, icobrain aria, to support detection and quantification of the side effect.
The Food and Drug Administration cleared the module in November. The software provides information on the presence, location, size, severity and changes of two types of ARIA adverse events, ARIA-E and ARIA-H, which are defined by the accumulation of fluid and bleeding, respectively.
Icometrix evaluated the software in a study that saw 16 radiologists assess 199 cases. The study linked the use of icobrain aria to significant improvements in ARIA detection and diagnosis. Icobrain aria-assisted reading performance was better than unassisted reading for all ARIA detection co-primary endpoints. GE HealthCare’s interest in the software forms part of a broader expansion of its Alzheimer's offering.
“Momentum began two years ago with the FDA approval of the first amyloid-targeting therapies,” GE HealthCare CEO Peter Arduini said on an earnings call in July. “Since then, we acquired MIM Software and have integrated differentiating amyloid assessment and therapy monitoring tools into our devices.”
Icometrix has also developed modules to help radiologists and neurologists compare and quantify brain MRI scans for disorders including multiple sclerosis, dementia, epilepsy, stroke and traumatic brain injury.
The company revealed last year that it had integrated its AI-powered quantitative reporting software with Philips’ MRI scanners. The agreement also saw Icometrix’s software deployed on Philips’ healthcare informatics platform. Icometrix singled out the potential impact of the integration on the use of new drugs that slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
GE HealthCare said it plans to integrate the Icometrix icobrain platform with its MRI systems for seamless workflow. The company also outlined plans to increase access to icobrain aria on all vendor MRI systems.
