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(Alliance News) - IQ-AI Ltd on Tuesday said there have been more studies showing possible dangers from the gadolinium-based contrast agents used for MRIs, which is good news for its own products.
Imaging Biometrics, a subsidiary of medical software and services firm IQ-AI, is in the process of "developing a portfolio of products designed to initially reduce and ultimately, eliminate the use of GBCA products" for MRI scans.
In the past three to four months, there have been clinical studies suggesting a possible connection between GBCA and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, bone and brain deposits, and systemic issues like rashes, joint pain, and cognitive impairment.
So far, Imaging Biometrics has already developed two methods which avoid a "pre-load" dose of GBCA to obtain the "dynamic susceptibility contrast image data" needed for a higher quality MRI image.
Imaging Biometrics' Dual Echo and Low Flip Angle methods both eliminate the need to dose a patient with GBCA to get that contrast image data.
IQ-AI announced it had filed a patent for gadolinium-free MRIs of the brain and other organs in October and the patent is still under review with the US Patent & Trademark Office.
IQ-AI Chief Executive Trevor Brown said: "Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Imaging Biometrics, IQ-AI is committed to lowering the GBCA doses used for all populations, but particularly those most vulnerable to gadolinium deposition disease. The gadolinium free imaging project, if successful, will have a significant impact on the revenues of the company over coming years. We will continue to update shareholders as matters progress."
Shares in IQ-AI were down 1.0% at 4.38 pence on Tuesday at midday.
