Imagion Biosystems (ASX:IBX) reports “positive” first MagSense breast cancer clinical data

• Imagion Biosystems (IBX) reports evidence in human patients that its MagSense cancer detection tech could improve the standard of care for cancer patients
• New trial data shows the IBX MagSense tech, when combined with conventional MRI scans, could help discriminate between potentially cancerous nodes from normal nodes
• Until now, the company has only reported safety and tolerability data for the MagSense trial, meaning today’s announcement marks IBX’s first breast cancer clinical data
• The company is continuing to enrol patients for the second cohort of the trial, with results so far consistent with data from the first cohort
• Shares in IBX last traded at 2.5 cents on Wednesday, December 7

Imagion Biosystems (IBX) has reported evidence in human patients that its MagSense cancer detection technology could improve the standard of care for cancer patients.

The company on Thursday said interim data from its ongoing phase two clinical study of its MagSense HER2 breast cancer imaging agent showed that the molecule signature of the MagSense imaging agent — when combined with conventional MRI — could help discriminate potentially cancerous nodes from normal nodes.

The company said that when combined with standard morphological assessments, MagSense could improve radiological evaluation and, subsequently, standard-of-care clinical tests.

Imagion CEO Bob Proulx said the company was “very excited” to report its first breast cancer clinical data for the first six patients of its MagSense trial.

“Though the number of patients might seem small, the implications for the company are large as they provide the first proof-of-principle of our targeted nanoparticle technology in the clinical setting,” Mr Proulx said.

“Evidence in real patients that our nanoparticle technology could improve upon conventional medical imaging methods is a major milestone for the company.”

Until now, the company has only reported safety and tolerability data for the MagSense trial, meaning today’s announcement marks the first efficacy results for the product.

However, Imagion said while the MagSense imaging agent was detectable by magnetic relaxometry, more subject samples were required due to a limited amount of accessible dissected nodal tissue to date.

The company is continuing to enrol patients for the second cohort of the trial, with results so far consistent with data from the first cohort.

Imagion said further studies were needed to broaden the study population and fully characterise the diagnostic performance of MagSense.

Imagion’s MagSense tech is based on bio-safe magnetic nanoparticles used to detect and tag cancer cells in the body. These particles act as a ‘beacon’ to medical imaging specialists to provide accurate depictions of the size and nature of tumours.

Shares in IBX last traded at 2.5 cents on Wednesday, December 7.