PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Resonance Health (ASX: RHT) is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with Emory University, who will perform a validation study of the Company’s HepaFat-Scan® technology in a pediatric patient population with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) at a prestigious children’s hospital in the USA – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
NAFLD is an obesity-related liver disease that increases the risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. It is the leading cause of liver disease for both adults and children in the US and is increasing rapidly worldwide. There are currently no approved pharmaceutical treatments for NAFLD.
HepaFat-Scan is a non-invasive medical imaging solution made available by Resonance Health that utilizes MRI to accurately measure liver fat. Regulatory clearances have been obtained to market HepaFat-Scan worldwide, with clearances gained in the USA (FDA), EU (CE Mark) and Australia (TGA). The gold standard for assessment of liver fat is currently liver biopsy which is painful, invasive and lacking in sensitivity due to its subjective and semi-quantitative nature.
This independent validation study of HepaFat-Scan is therefore important in consolidating the value of this test in providing an accurate liver fat measurement in NAFLD patients of all ages. General Manager of Resonance Health, Mr Sander Bangma said “We have worked with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a number of years in the provision of our FerriScan® service to measure liver iron overload. We are delighted that we can now further our collaboration with such a highly-respected institution to provide the HepaFat-Scan service in this study under the direction of Associate Professor Dr. Miriam Vos, a leading clinician and recognized expert in the field of pediatric NAFLD. HepaFat-Scan can assist clinicians in their diagnosis and treatment of patients, providing them with accurate information at an earlier disease stage. This study intends to show that this information will lead to improved patient outcomes. Collecting data like this may ultimately support inclusion of HepaFat-Scan in clinical guidelines for routine care of NAFLD patients.”
The study will commence immediately and aims to recruit 50 subjects. Results are expected within 12 to 18 months.
HepaFat-Scan is also very well suited to be utilized by pharmaceutical companies who are currently racing to develop treatments for NAFLD and associated diseases.
Further information on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
