May
16

MedQIA will be exhibiting at the American Thoracic Society International Conference May 20 – 22. Come see us at Booth #1426!

May
16

FibroGen Announces Promising Preliminary Data from an Open-label Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of FG-3019 in Individuals with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Provides Program Update

San Francisco, CA – May 3, 2012 – FibroGen, Inc., today announced expansion of an ongoing open-label Phase 2 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of FG-3019, a human monoclonal antibody against connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), in individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The company’s decision to
add a second, higher dose group is based on promising preliminary data from the first dose group as well as dose escalation data from other clinical trials of FG-3019 indicating that higher doses of FG-3019 appear to be associated with a more robust biological and clinical response. FibroGen has also decided to add on another year of FG-3019
therapy for patients in the first dose group who are exhibiting stable or improved lung function in order to evaluate whether the observed maintenance of lung function continues.
“This is the first demonstration in humans, to our knowledge, that reversal of fibrosis may be possible using a highly-targeted antifibrotic therapeutic,” said Thomas B. Neff, Chief Executive Officer of FibroGen.

To view the entire press release: FibroGen Expands IPF Study May 3 2012 (2)

For more information about FibroGen, Inc., please visit www.fibrogen.com.

Apr
03

Computer-aided quantitative bone scan assessment of prostate cancer treatment response

More than 90% of patients with advanced prostate cancer develop bone metastases, which can produce some of the most severe complications of the disease, including pain and spinal cord compromise. New drugs are being evaluated that show high rates of complete or partial resolution of bone scan abnormalities. While whole-body bone scintigraphy is the accepted standard imaging modality, there remains no established standard for evaluating and interpreting the imaging results. Current criteria used in clinical trials are primarily visual and focused on detecting progression or disease stability. These visual assessments are subject to intra- and inter-observer variability. For reliable evaluation of new therapies, quantitative tools are needed and objective criteria for disease response assessment.

In this paper we present a new automated technique for detecting lesions on bone scans that involves intensity normalization, thresholding, and connected-component analysis. The system calculates quantitative metrics for assessing disease burden and treatment response including total Bone Scan Lesion Area (BSLA), Bone Scan Lesion Intensity (BSLI), and Bone Scan Lesion Count (BSLC).

We investigated the ability of these metrics to distinguish between an untreated cohort and a cohort of subjects treated with cabozantinib, a MET/VEGF inhibitor. There were 10 subjects in each cohort and scanning was performed pre-treatment and 6-weeks post-treatment. The change in BSLA, BSLI and BSLC were calculated for each subject. The most significant measure, BSLA, showed a median (interquartile range) change from baseline at week 6 of 7.13% (27.61) in the untreated group compared with –73.76% (45.38) in the cabozantinib-treated group (P = 0.0003). Based on the results we propose a 30% reduction in Bone Scan Lesion Area (BSLA) as a criterion for treatment response.

The automated system allows for reproducible quantification of metastases in bone scans and reliable interpatient and intrapatient comparison. It demonstrates potential as an objective measurement of treatment effects, laying the foundation for validation against other clinically relevant outcome measures.

Nuclear Medicine Communications 2012, 33:384–394

Mar
14

The Day of Imaging is designed to introduce participants to imaging technologies and specific applications in oncology, immuno-oncology, fibrosis and neuroscience. It is also a unique networking opportunity for speakers and participants alike to share knowledge about state-of-the-art imaging applications in pharmaceutical research and development. It is a full day event, beginning with a networking breakfast where you meet your fellow speakers as well as key BMS senior leaders.
The main event follows, with speaker presentations in the main lecture hall from 9 am – 1 pm.

Mar
05

Program Description
This one-day course, co-sponsored by the Society of Thoracic Radiology and the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance, with course directors Jonathan Goldin and David Lynch, will
summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the role of quantitative CT of the lungs in diffuse lung disease.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of the course, the attendee will be able to:
• Describe the technical parameters for performing and quantitatively analyzing CT of the lung parenchyma in diffuse lung diseases;
• Summarize the role of quantitative CT in diffuse lung diseases including asthma, COPD and fibrosing lung diseases;
• Understand the importance of quantitative CT as a biomarker of diffuse lung disease.
Course Directors
Jonathan Goldin, MBChB, PhD & David A. Lynch, MB

Feb
07

Come see Dr. Matthew Brown at SPIE 2012 in San Diego: Session 3: Oncology

Date: Tuesday 7 February
Time: 1:20 PM – 3:00 PM

Session Chairs: Matthew S. Brown, ; Axel Wismueller, Univ. of Rochester Medical Ctr.
Automatic detection of axillary lymphadenopathy on CT scans of untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients
Paper 8315-10
Time: 1:20 PM – 1:40 PM
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have an increased frequency of axillary lymphadenopathy. CT scans can be used to upstage patients at the time of presentation. In the current clinical workflow, the detection and diagnosis of lymph nodes is usually performed manually by examining all slices of CT images. A system for automatic lymph node detection is desired. We propose a computer aided detection system for axillary lymph nodes on CT scans in CLL patients. The lung is first segmented and the patient’s body in lung region is extracted. 3D blob detection is then applied to detect potential lymph nodes. Next, the detected potential candidates are segmented. Finally, features are calculated and support vector machine is used for classification. We applied our system to 12 patients with 168 axillary lymph nodes measuring greater than 10 mm. The system achieved sensitivities of 81% and 85% at 2 false positives per patient for Frangi’s and Li’s blobness, respectively.

2 hours ago

Dec
08

MedQIA is announcing today the approval of its DHHS 501(k) application for integrated image analysis and data analysis system, known as IBIS: Imaging Biomarker Information System. IBIS provides data storage with full audit time stamp and e-signature capabilities. The IBIS system was developed specifically for use in clinical trials. The resulting affects include the lowest adjudication rates in the industry. This adjudication rate derives from the unique computer-aided approach to tumor contouring and measurement implemented in the IBIS Markup package. The IBIS Explorer and Markup Software are in fact two distinct pieces of technology, IBIS Explorer stores and displays the images; the Markup Software is used to measure specified regions on the images, interpret results and generate reports based on those results. In addition to the software’s core capabilities IBIS provides a number of clinical application including; oncology and lesion marking and analysis, and anatomic structure marking, volume measurement and analysis. The system is able to perform analysis on multiple modality data sets including Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Bone Scan, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) – CT, and Ultrasound.

In Clinical Trials, from preclinical to phase 3 registration trials, IBIS allows for multiple reader paradigms with full regulatory compliance at each step. The unique system allows for selection and follow up of both target and non-target lesions, while allowing for full independence of the read with respect to lesion selection and contour validation. The integration of the measurements and radiologist’s opinions which are also captured electronically into the database allow for rapid data turnaround and validation and start- up deliverable times to sponsors.

About MedQIA
MedQIA is unique as an imaging CRO that focuses on the development, validation and implementation of novel imaging biomarkers. MedQIA provides end-to-end capabilities in image data collection, quality control and advanced quantitative analyses. Our integration of optimized standardized image acquisition across multicenter clinical trial sites, with advanced image analysis tools using IBIS allows us to be a one-stop resource for imaging challenges in clinical trials. Key differentiators that MedQIA provides include rigorous management of the imaging aspects of the clinical protocol, as well as rapid Quality Control feedback to the clinical site. This results in maximum value for the dollars invested in the imaging components of a study protocol.

Contacts
Juliette Bridges
310-481-7561
jbridges@medqia.com

Matthew Brown, PhD
310-794-8969
mbrown@medqia.com

Jonathon Goldin, MD, PhD
310-481-7570
jgoldin@medqia.com

Dec
08

click here to view poster
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: December 6-10, 2011
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Dec
08

“Very importantly in this investigator-sponsored trial, we used a prospectively defined definition of bone scan response using central review of bone scans in the computer assisted quantitative measurement by MedQIA. As you see here all of the patients had improvements in bone lesion area, 10 of the 11 patients met criteria for response with greater than 30% improvement in bone lesion area and again at 40 milligram. Those results prompted us to look at lower doses, we saw less activity at 20 milligrams and they are now withstanding the cohort at 40 milligrams and as of yesterday accrued the last patient to that study.”

“Now with a word about this method of bone scan assessment, again this is done by a company called MedQIA. It is computer assisted, and it is objective, highly reproducible and quantifiable. We are very intrigued by this again impressed with its utility in evaluation in investigator-sponsored trial, but of course, we are starting at, we will require prospective clinical validation and it’s our intention to do that in a subsequent larger study.”

Dec
08

“CADrx for GBM Brain Tumors: Predicting Treatment Response from Changes in Diffusion-Weighted MRI”
Authors: Jing Huo, Matthew Brown, Kazanuri Okada For details of the book see: http://www.igi-global.com/book/machine-learning-computer-aided-diagnosis/56023