Polaren Imaging (POLX ) has entered into a research collaboration with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to study the long-term effects of long COVID-19 patients.
The new ‘EXPLAIN’ study conducted in partnership with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (“OUH”) will evaluate the underlying causes of persistent breathlessness in patients with long COVID using hyperpolarised xenon to enhance MRI in pulmonary medicine.
Under the terms of the collaboration, Polarean will provide its investigational xenon polariser system to OUH for their research. In turn, OUH will work with Polarean to optimise the imaging workflow and analyse the datasets coming from the newly enrolling EXPLAIN study.
Through novel analyses of gas-exchange images, the study will aim to better characterise long COVID and improve patient care, the medical‑imaging technology company explained.
Polarean’s investigational drug‑device combination product which utilises 129Xenon MRI imaging technology uses a novel approach that can detect functional changes of the lung that impact its ability to properly handle the exchange of gases during inhalation and exhalation.
The company also highlighted to investors that the upcoming research ‘builds upon the pioneering work conducted at OUH showing that hyperpolarised xenon MRI can detect underlying damage that is not detectable by traditional lung imaging, such as CT scans.’
Commenting, Prof Fergus Gleeson, Professor of Radiology at the University of Oxford and Consultant Radiologist at OUH, said: “We are pleased to be working with Polarean, now having access to their most advanced hyperpolarised xenon equipment. With this new system, we will be able to image increased numbers of patients more efficiently to see if we can uncover the underlying causes driving long COVID as part of our EXPLAIN study.”
Also commenting, Richard Hullihen, CEO of Polarean Imaging told investors: “Oxford University is a leading pioneer in the use of 129Xe MRI to unravel the underlying pathophysiology that drives persistent breathlessness in patients with long COVID.
We are delighted to collaborate with them on new image analyses as part of the upcoming EXPLAIN trial that might shed additional light on the mysterious illness that has been affecting a growing number of patients over the past few years and affecting their quality of life.”
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WIth Polarean already operating in an area of significant unmet medical need, the upcoming EXPLAIN study will see the company address an area that remains largely misunderstood.
Long COVID is an umbrella term used to describe ongoing symptoms following COVID-19 infection after four weeks. Since the mechanisms driving the symptom of breathlessness remain unclear, new diagnostic modalities are crucial to advance the care of these patients.
Through novel analyses of gas-exchange images which will be conducted in the study, Polarean and OUH hope to better characterise long COVID and improve patient care.
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