Imago Systems Awarded NIH/NCI

Lansdowne, VA – October 9, 2018 – Imago Systems, an innovator in image visualization and artificial intelligence software, today announced that it is a recipient of a Phase I contract with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Cancer Institute (NCI) under Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Topic 375 for the development of a “Novel Diagnostic Imaging Modality for Monitoring Tumor Response to a Hyperthermia Immunotherapy.” Funding is in conjunction with the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel initiative. Phase I was awarded on September 14 and covers a period of nine months for $299,726.89. Imago will be using its patent-pending imaging technology to monitor, in vivo, tumor development and regression of implanted breast cancer in mice.

Under the contract, Imago will work with Kaio Therapy, LLC. Kaio Therapy is a developer of innovative active immunotherapy platforms, whose magnetite-mediated hyperthermia therapy has demonstrated substantial efficacy at initiating complete tumor regression in a number of in vivo models.

The initiative will provide much needed support for the development of diagnostic imaging technologies to identify patients who are likely to respond to cancer immunotherapies; evaluate the efficacy and potential toxicities of the treatment; and/or monitor cancer patients’ prognosis. The project is intended specifically to address cancer immunotherapies that depend upon eliciting an immune response.

“We are very excited to be awarded this contract by NIH/NCI and to be part of a team that is exploring the potential of targeting and monitoring cancer in new ways,” said Thomas Ramsay, Chairman and CEO of Imago. “To date, the limitations of imaging technology have precluded this type of diagnostic information and insight.”