Optiscan kicks off GI study in Germany with first imaging prototype

Optiscan completes first gastrointestinal (GI) flexible prototype to collect images from the GI tract and activates GI study at major German university.

Optiscan Imaging Limited (ASX:OIL) completes first gastrointestinal flexible prototype to collect images from the GI tract.

• Optiscan initiates pre-clinical gastrointestinal study with a major German university

• To support the study, Optiscan has completed its first prototype to collect images from the gastrointestinal tract

• The study will assess Optiscan’s Gen2 real-time imaging capability to diagnose and treat GI diseases, including cancer

 

Optiscan Imaging Limited (ASX:OIL) has completed the first prototype to collect images from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and kicked off an important pre-clinical GI study with University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany.

Optiscan CEO and managing director Dr Camile Farah visited Germany in January to activate the study, which aims to capture images of the GI tract.

Optiscan said the collected images would be used to assess real-time imaging capability of its Gen2 technology in diagnosing and treating GI diseases, including cancer, and progress planning for the upcoming clinical phase to follow over coming months.

The company said the staged approach to collecting pre-clinical and then clinical data with the Gen2 prototype would assist Optiscan engineers in development of its Gen3 flexible endomicroscope, which would be used in future clinical trials.

In addition, the current study will allow the collection of imaging datasets of various disease processes to assist with the initiation of AI algorithm development by the company’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) partner, Monash University.

Optiscan announced in November it had inked a deal with Monash University that will help advance its project to develop the next-gen GI flexible endomicroscope and Edge-AI-enabled technology.

Major global health challenge

Optiscan said GI diseases posed a major global health challenge with colon cancer ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

In 2020, more than 1.9 million new cases of colorectal cancer and more than 930,000 deaths due to colorectal cancer were estimated to have occurred worldwide.

Optiscan said the diagnostic challenge lied in the reliance on invasive procedures and delayed results, as traditional methods struggled to provide the real-time precision needed for effective decision-making and timely interventions.

“Through this study, Optiscan will explore the ability to deliver high-resolution, real-time visualisation of cellular structures of the GI tract using its more advanced Gen2 technology, in a planned sequential staged development plan as it develops its next-generation stand-alone flexible endomicroscope,” the company noted.
“This innovation could enable earlier detection and more accurate diagnoses, addressing the global healthcare burden associated with GI diseases while reshaping diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.”

Optiscan said by providing real-time, high-resolution imaging at the cellular level, its technology could enable clinicians to visualise and assess GI tissues with unprecedented clarity during screening procedures.

The company said this capability could help facilitate immediate identification of abnormalities, such as pre-cancerous lesions or early-stage cancers, reducing the need for multiple biopsies and enabling more precise interventions.

Its ability to deliver live imaging minimises delays associated with traditional histopathology, streamlining decision-making and enhancing patient outcomes and procedural efficiency.

‘Major step forward’

Optiscan CEO and managing director Dr Camile Farah said the study would be conducted under the leadership of renowned world-leading gastroenterologist Professor Ralf Kiesslich.

“The study represents a major step forward in helping to better understand and manage one of the world’s biggest health issues,” Farah said.

“GI diseases represent a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of lives each year.”

Farah emphasised that early detection and precise intervention are critical, yet traditional diagnostic tools often fall short in providing timely and accurate insights.

“Our partnership with Professor Kiesslich and his team represents a pivotal step forward in extending the capabilities of Optiscan’s real-time, high-resolution imaging technology, as the company plans to re-enter the GI endoscopy market with its own private-label device,” he said.

“Professor Kiesslich was instrumental in the design, deployment, and clinical uptake of Optiscan’s Gen1 flexible endomicroscope in partnership with Pentax in the early 2000s and will also play a key role in advancing Optiscan’s Gen3 device over the coming year.”

Farah added that Optiscan was working towards receiving ethical clearance for the clinical phase of its planned studies.

This article was developed in collaboration with Optiscan, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Optiscan kicks off GI study in Germany with first imaging prototype