4DMedical analytical software to be used by industry partners to help advance new lung disease therapies

4DMedical (ASX: 4DX) will lend its ground-breaking analytical software to two industry partners working to bring new lung disease therapies to market.

US-based SMS Biotech will use the company’s suite of software tools for a trial of its novel human stem cell therapy for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an undisclosed multinational lung device developer will employ the software for a clinical trial of a novel implantable device to treat complex lung conditions.

The technology plays a key role in helping with the early detection of conditions such as COPD (which encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis), asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.

Growing demand

4DMedical founder Andreas Fouras said the partnerships highlight growing industry demand for 4DMedical’s lung imaging technology.

“By providing precise structural imaging and rich functional insights, we are accelerating success for our industry partners in their quest to bring novel and powerful treatments to market,” he said.

“As these treatments progress towards market entry, 4DMedical stands ready to continue to support that effort by providing our technology to larger clinical trials which we hope will serve to grow our reputation in this multi-billion-dollar sector.”

Critical role

The Australian government recently cleared SMS Biotech’s upcoming stem cell therapy trial, which will be conducted on a cohort of mild-to-moderate COPD patients at Cabrini Health in Victoria.

4DMedical’s software will play a critical role in the trial, assessing baseline lung health before therapy and tracking changes in lung function and structure post-therapy to quantify the impact of the stem cells.

SMS Biotech will use the software to document the structural improvements in patient lung health and demonstrate how air movement within the lungs can be improved.

The company is currently pursuing ‘compassionate use’ of the therapy with several US academic medical centres prior to formal stage approvals.

Enhanced evaluation process

The undisclosed medical device developer specialising in respiratory health has contracted 4DMedical’s technology to enhance its evaluation process for clinical trial candidates.

The developer will leverage 4DMedical’s imaging and functional analysis software to provide precise assessments of lung function and structure using its products, which aim to diagnose and treat complex lung conditions.

By integrating 4DMedical’s capabilities, the developer aims to better identify suitable trial participants and track key respiratory metrics, ultimately advancing its ability to address a range of pulmonary conditions.

Global collaborations

Mr Fouras said collaborations such as these with global companies formed an integral part of 4DMedical’s commercialisation strategy.

“It represents a large addressable market, as pharmaceutical and device companies are increasingly seeking imaging biomarkers to support their development into clinical care or to shorten their clinical trials through more appropriate patient selection,” he said.

“These collaborations underscore our growing reputation as an industry partner for advancing respiratory care for patients with chronic lung diseases.”

Veterans healthcare

Recent congressional testimony at the US House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has also highlighted 4DMedical’s technology.

The testimony acknowledged the need for faster, affordable and less invasive ways to identify and diagnose lung disease to improve health outcomes for veterans and reduce dependency on taxpayer resources.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for meeting the screening and diagnostic needs of thousands of veterans struggling with respiratory illnesses following deployment-related exposures including jet fuel, chemical agents and radiation.

Early diagnosis

4DMedical has partnered with health technology company Philips to provide quantitative analysis of lung function in veterans for the early diagnosis of conditions such as respiratory disease, constrictive bronchiolitis, interstitial lung disease and unexplained dyspnoea (shortness of breath).

The company’s software aims to transform standard CT imaging into a detailed four-dimensional image.

This should help clinicians better assess pulmonary function, achieve faster diagnoses and perform less invasive procedures.