iCAD to Clinically Test Virtual Colonography CAD Product

NASHUA, N.H. -- iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) solutions for the early identification of cancer, announced an agreement with ACR Image Metrix to conduct a multi-reader clinical study of iCAD's CT Colon product, for use with virtual colonography. With this partnership, iCAD will work with ACR Image Metrix to develop and execute a clinical study to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of CT Colon CAD.

ACR Image Metrix was launched by the American College of Radiology (ACR) to leverage over thirty years of experience in conducting clinical research in part through the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN). The ACR and the ACRIN have a proven history in developing trials that standardize the use of imaging technologies, image transmission and archive, reduce the size and cost of trials and produce more reliable results.

"This partnership represents a major step forward in the development of our Colon CAD product," said Ken Ferry, president and chief executive officer of iCAD. "We feel that working with ACR Image Metrix, a group with significant expertise in radiology clinical trial management, will put us in an optimal position to submit solid clinical data to FDA and meet our goals for this important product line."

Although 140,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year, the good news is it is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early. More than 82 million Americans are over 50 and are eligible for colorectal cancer screening. However, the test is significantly underutilized, due at least in part to the invasive nature of current screening procedures. Results from recent trials showing the effectiveness of virtual colonography as a screening procedure coupled with recent legislation introduced to establish Medicare reimbursement for the procedure are likely to expand the options available for colorectal cancer screening and increase utilization of virtual colonography.

"It is clear from the low compliance levels that we need more options in colon cancer screening," said Bruce J. Hillman, MD, FACR, ACR Image Metrix director of Scientific Affairs. "We feel that CT colonography has the potential to drastically improve colon cancer screening and we look forward to exploring how CAD can impact and enhance this new option for detecting polyps." Hillman was the chair of ACRIN and played a pivotal role in advancing several national trials including the national CT colonography trial that recently demonstrated that CTC is highly accurate for the detection of intermediate and large polyps and that the accuracy of CTC is similar to colonoscopy.

Source: iCAD, Inc.

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines