Aclarion, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACON, ACONW) announced a second commercial agreement with Weill Cornell Medicine to expand the use of its Nociscan platform in a groundbreaking clinical trial led by renowned neurosurgeon Roger Härtl, MD. The trial, titled "Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Injection with MRI’s – a Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial" (IRB Protocol No. 24-09027977), will evaluate the long-term effects of lumbar microdiscectomy surgery with and without an intradiscal bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injection on patient outcomes, intervertebral disc health, and pain biomarkers over two years.
Nociscan is a cloud-based SaaS platform that uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data from MRI machines to quantify chemical biomarkers associated with disc pain. By leveraging proprietary augmented intelligence algorithms, Nociscan helps physicians distinguish between painful and nonpainful discs in the lumbar spine, achieving a 97% surgical success rate when all identified pain-positive discs are treated. This technology is particularly relevant given that approximately 266 million people worldwide suffer from degenerative spine disease and chronic low back pain, a major global health issue.
The study aims to deepen understanding of degenerative disc disease (DDD), its causes, and potential treatments. Dr. Härtl, founder and director of the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care and co-director of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian, noted, "This trial strives to enhance our understanding of disc degeneration in patients, and illuminate chemical aspects of disc degeneration not available with traditional imaging." The research will investigate whether BMAC injections can improve outcomes after microdiscectomy and provide insights into the natural history of DDD.
Ryan Bond, Chief Strategy Officer of Aclarion, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "Progressive trials such as this one are a clear example for how healthcare advances – investigating a major global health issue, like degenerative disc disease, while using innovative tools like Nociscan." This marks the second trial at Weill Cornell Medicine to incorporate Nociscan, reinforcing the platform's role in advancing spine research.
Chronic low back pain remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, and current diagnostic methods often fail to pinpoint the exact source of pain. Nociscan provides objective biomarker data that, when combined with other diagnostic tools, offers critical insights for optimizing treatment strategies. The technology is the first evidence-supported SaaS platform to noninvasively help physicians identify painful discs, potentially reducing unnecessary surgeries and improving patient outcomes.
The implications of this trial extend beyond individual patient care. By integrating Nociscan into a prospective randomized controlled trial, researchers can gather robust data on disc degeneration and the efficacy of biological treatments like BMAC. This could pave the way for new standards in spine care, shifting from traditional imaging-based assessments to a more precise, biomarker-driven approach. For the healthcare industry, the study represents a step toward personalized medicine for back pain, addressing a condition that affects millions globally and imposes significant economic burdens.
Aclarion continues to commercialize Nociscan through partnerships with leading medical institutions. The company's technology is designed to be accessible via cloud connectivity, allowing seamless integration into existing clinical workflows. For more information about Nociscan and a list of centers, visit the company's website.
