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Quibim launches automated AI tool for MR diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases through accurate quantification of tissue fat and iron levels
- QP-Liver leverages advanced AI models and has been validated against reference digital pathology data.
- The product has been cleared for use by clinicians in the EU and the UK.
21 March 2024, Cambridge, UK/ Valencia, Spain/ New York, US – Quibim, a global company pioneering imaging biomarkers for precision medicine, is today announcing the launch of a new product, QP-Liver, which improves the diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases through highly accurate quantification of tissue fat and iron from MRI scans. It has been given a CE and UKCA mark for the European Union and United Kingdom respectively, meaning it is cleared to be used in those markets.
Chronic liver disease is a significant burden, causing high morbidity and mortality rates and straining medical resources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), liver diseases account for an approximate 2 million global deaths annually. QP-Liver, which leverages Quibim’s AI models, provides a highly accurate automated liver segmentation and correlates fat and iron quantification with reference digital pathology data, allowing researchers and clinicians to leverage personalised liver disease management. This includes early detection, precise monitoring, and tailored treatment plans. The tool also reduces the need for invasive biopsies, providing solid insights for informed decisions and elevated patient care.
The platform features a post-processing solution for fat and iron quantification that performs fully automatic analyses of abdominal MRI examinations containing multi-echo chemical shift (MECSE) sequences that can precisely detect and quantify fat content. It can then generate parametric maps of fat and iron, offering detailed analysis by processing each tiny 3D element of the scan individually to generate what is known as voxel-wise resolution. This is used to generate a structured quantitative report that compares liver values with normative data.
By simultaneously quantifying iron and fat, Quibim’s tool offers comprehensive information for steatosis and iron overload evaluation, correcting confounding factors and biases inherent in conventional non-concurrent methods This allows for more precise measurements assessing disease severity and improves the quality of radiologist reports and decision-making processes within healthcare institutions. Researchers can also use QP-Liver to correlate quantification with reference digital pathology data[1], enabling comprehensive analysis.
Angel Alberich-Bayarri, Co-founder and CEO of Quibim, comments on the launch: “Coexistence of Fat and Iron in the liver is a risk factor for hepatocarcinoma and these findings need to be managed early. QP-Liver represents a significant leap forward in liver imaging analysis. By automating liver segmentation and simultaneously quantifying tissue fat and iron instead of independently, it allows for the highest accuracy and empowers clinicians to make more informed diagnoses for patients with diffuse liver diseases. We believe the tool’s impact on liver disease diagnosis is truly remarkable, and it exemplifies the intersection of cutting-edge AI, quantitative algorithms and healthcare.
“It is important to highlight that the mission to speed up real-life early detection of cancer and other diseases such as liver disease is truly an international group effort at every stage. We are acutely aware of the vital role our research, healthcare and pharmaceutical partners play in ensuring the technology gets used to treat patients, which is why getting regulatory backing for QP-Liver is such a milestone. We look forward to seeing the tool being used across the EU and in the UK in the near future.”
About Quibim
Quibim is a company designing pioneering tools that unlock imaging data to improve patient outcomes. With offices in New York (United States), Cambridge (UK), Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona (Spain), the company was born from the ambition of turning imaging into a catalyst for precision health. Quibim leads the forefront of imaging biomarkers research in life sciences, pioneering the development of advanced algorithms that transform imaging data into actionable predictions in oncology, immunology and neurology. The company leverages the capabilities of MRI, CT, and PET imaging to create regulatory-cleared Medical Devices that are seamlessly integrated into the workflows of healthcare providers worldwide. More than 150+ sites are using Quibim products globally.
In addition to QP-Liver, Quibim has developed other products, including:
- QP-Prostate, the company’s flagship product for identifying prostate cancer. It was recently updated to include an industry-leading lesion detection capability.
- QP-Brain, which provides quantification and visualization of imaging findings. This is useful for identifying patterns of brain atrophy and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and vascular and frontotemporal dementia, at earlier stages and also makes reporting more effective. It was recently launched and has been cleared for use by US, UK and EU regulators.
- QP-Insights, an all-in-one web platform that manages, stores, and quantitatively analyzes medical images and other clinical data, was also launched recently and is already used by leading bio-pharmaceutical companies and European research consortiums.
Quibim has also announced several high-profile partnerships in recent months, including Merck KGaA to develop imaging biomarkers models used to predict cancer patient response to immunotherapy and inform decisions in its global drug development efforts. Additionally, Quibim partnered with Phillips, a leader in the health technology industry, to launch AI-based imaging and reporting solutions for MR prostate exams.
Contact information
quibim@camarco.co.uk
[1] Martí-Aguado D., et al. Automated Whole-Liver MRI Segmentation to Assess Steatosis and Iron Quantification in Chronic Liver Disease. (2021). Radiology.
