[Source: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center]

Polarean Imaging (AIM: POLX ) has received a research unit order for a 9820 Xenon Polariser system from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ("MD Anderson Cancer Center"). 

The medical-imaging technology company said this new unit for MD Anderson Cancer Center, which is a major cancer research and teaching hospital, will initiate a new research programme using the new hyperpolarised 129Xe technology for imaging purposes in oncology.

This includes assessing lung function as a result of chemotherapy and radiation therapies, and providing guidance for improved radiation treatment planning, amongst other topics.

129Xe, when polarised in Polarean’s proprietary drug-device system, permits functional, regional and quantitative imaging of the lungs without exposing patients to ionising radiation. 

CEO, Richard Hullihen, said MD Anderson Cancer Center has pioneered “such a breadth of oncology applications for medical imaging for this patient population”. He added that the group “welcomes them” to its users researching the use of 129 Xe in pulmonary function.

Last week, Polarean said it had submitted a New Drug Application ("NDA") and request for priority review to the US Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for hyperpolarised 129Xenon gas used to evaluate pulmonary function and to visualise the lung using MRI. 

Shares in Polarean Imaging have traded strongly over the past three months, rising from lows of 29p to open at 50p this morning.

As explained in an FDA guidance document, a priority review pathway expedites the review of a product with the FDA reviewing a drug in just six months instead of the standard 10. 
 
The submission of the NDA follows the Company's successful completion of the two Phase III clinical trials which demonstrated an effective measurement of regional lung ventilation.  

Back in January, the group said clinical trials from a phase III study successfully met their primary endpoint and that its data would be used in an NDA application to the US FDA. 
 
In a half-year report published last month, Richard Hullihen, CEO of Polarean Imaging described the positive readout as one of the group’s “most important milestones to date”. 
 
"The positive results of these Clinical Trials validate our belief that Polarean's technology allows clinicians to visualise aspects of the lung function, which have never before been visible by MRI, both safely and quantitatively.” said Hullihen at the time of the results. 
 
He added: “More than 30 million Americans suffer from a chronic lung disease and the financial burden of lung disease now exceeds US$150 billion annually.”  

The group also recently outlined that the "129Xe MRI Clinical Trials Consortium" continues to discuss the application of its technology to the case of post infection COVID-19 patients in regard to assessing the long-term effects and case management of patients with the virus. 

Polarean said it is looking towards a potential commercial launch before the end of 2021.

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