AI Integration Advances Lung Fibrosis Patient Stratification in Clinical Trials

In a collaborative effort between Brainomix, an AI-powered medical technology company, and AstraZeneca, a new study demonstrates significant advancements in the identification and stratification of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at risk of disease progression.

The research, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, leveraged Brainomix's e-Lung software, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence-enabled tool designed for automated processing of CT scans in clinical settings.

The study focused on analyzing data from AstraZeneca's Phase 2 clinical trial of tralokinumab, a treatment under investigation for IPF, utilizing the e-Lung platform to process patient data. A notable aspect of e-Lung is its incorporation of the Weighted Reticulovascular Score (WRVS), an innovative biomarker that evaluates reticular opacities and vascular structures within the lungs, offering a novel approach to assessing disease progression risk.

Findings from this analysis revealed that WRVS, derived from a single baseline CT scan, could predict the decline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) over a 52-week period more effectively than traditional measures. This capability suggests e-Lung's potential to enrich clinical trials with patients more likely to show disease progression, optimize trial design by ensuring well-matched treatment arms, and potentially reduce the overall size of future clinical trials.

Dr. Peter George, Senior Medical Director at Brainomix and Clinical Lead for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) at Royal Brompton Hospital, London, emphasized the significance of these findings. He noted that the WRVS tool, through a single CT scan, could stratify patients at risk of decline, potentially transforming the design and efficiency of clinical trials for IPF.

Adding to the discussion, Dr. Kristoffer Ostridge, Head of Experimental Medicine at AstraZeneca, highlighted the transformative role of data science and AI in research and development. The collaboration with Brainomix aligns with AstraZeneca's strategy to leverage innovative AI approaches to accelerate the delivery of new medicines to patients, particularly those suffering from interstitial lung diseases.

This study builds on previous research presented at the American Thoracic Society meeting, which found WRVS to be a stronger predictor of transplant-free survival in IPF patients compared to FVC alone. These insights underscore the potential of AI and biomarker technologies to predict both short-term and long-term patient outcomes, including lung function decline and overall survival.

Brainomix, originating as a spin-out from the University of Oxford, has established itself as a pioneer in the development of AI-powered software solutions aimed at facilitating precision medicine for various conditions, including stroke and lung fibrosis.

With a global footprint extending to over 30 countries, Brainomix is involved in strategic partnerships and innovative product offerings, such as the Brainomix 360 stroke platform, which has achieved clinical adoption in hundreds of hospitals worldwide.

Topics: Emerging Technologies