29th Sep 2025 07:00
29 September 2025
Polarean Imaging plc
("Polarean" or the "Company")
University of Virginia Health Hospital new supply agreement
Polarean Imaging plc (AIM: POLX), a commercial-stage medical imaging technology leader in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") of the lungs, announces that it has entered into a new supply agreement with the University of Virginia Health ("UVA Health") to complete the implementation of full clinical Xenon MRI capabilities.
UVA Health holds a unique place in medical imaging history as the site where the first human patient was scanned using hyperpolarised Xenon MRI. The institution upgraded its two research-grade hyperpolarisers to clinical-grade systems in 2024 provided by Polarean, and UVA Health required some essential additional equipment from Polarean to enable clinical Xenon MRI scans in their clinical imaging area.
UVA Health is an integrated health system anchored by a world-class academic medical center that includes a nationally recognised Comprehensive Cancer Center and UVA Health Children's, the leading pediatric hospital in Virginia. Its Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI Center faculty pioneered applications for a variety of lung diseases, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Their research programme was recently strengthened by a $7.4 million US National Institutes of Health grant, awarded to evaluate lung transplant rejection and abnormalities in the lungs of electronic cigarette users using Xenon MRI, focusing on improving diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
Professor Colin Derdeyn, MD, Interim Dean of the UVA School of Medicine and previously Chair of the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging at UVA Health, said: "UVA Health has been a leader in Xenon MRI research for nearly three decades, beginning with the world's first human lung scan using this technology in 1996. Since then, our teams have made significant contributions to its development and application across a range of pulmonary diseases. Advancing to clinical implementation is a major step, not only for UVA Health, but for the patients who will benefit from safer, more detailed evaluation of lung disease. We are pleased to work with Polarean to bring this innovation into routine care."
Christopher von Jako, PhD, CEO of Polarean, said: "We are delighted to support UVA Health as they prepare to launch their first clinical Xenon MRI scan, anticipated to occur later this year. Their deep and sustained commitment to advancing pulmonary imaging - from early research breakthroughs to today's clinical transition - perfectly aligns with Polarean's mission to provide critical imaging solutions for chronic lung disease.
"UVA Health's decades-long leadership in Xenon MRI has been instrumental in shaping the field, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to improve lung health for patients everywhere."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014, as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Enquiries:
Polarean Imaging plc | www.polarean.com / www.polarean-ir.com | |||||
Christopher von Jako, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer Charles Osborne, Chief Financial Officer | Via Walbrook PR
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Stifel (NOMAD and Sole Corporate Broker) | +44 (0)20 7710 7600 | |||||
Nicholas Moore / Fred Walsh / Brough Ransom / Ben Good | ||||||
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Walbrook PR | Tel: +44 (0)20 7933 8780 or [email protected] | |||||
Anna Dunphy / Paul McManus / Marcus Ulker | ||||||
About Polarean
Polarean is a revenue-generating medical imaging technology company revolutionising pulmonary medicine through direct visualisation of lung function by introducing the power and safety of MRI to the respiratory healthcare community. This community is in desperate need of modern solutions to accurately assess lung function. The Company strives to optimise lung health and prevent avoidable loss by illuminating hidden disease, addressing the global unmet medical needs of more than 500 million patients worldwide suffering from chronic respiratory disease. Polarean is a leader in the field of hyperpolarisation science and has successfully developed the first and only hyperpolarised Xenon MRI inhaled contrast agent, XENOVIEW®, which is now FDA-approved in the United States. Polarean is dedicated to researching, developing, and commercialising innovative imaging solutions with its non-invasive and radiation-free pulmonary functional MRI platform. This comprehensive drug-device platform encompasses the proprietary Xenon gas blend, gas hyperpolarisation system, as well as software and accessories, facilitating fully integrated modern respiratory imaging operations. Founded in 2012, with offices in Durham, NC, and London, United Kingdom, Polarean is committed to increasing global awareness of and broad access to its XENOVIEW MRI technology platform.
For the latest news and information about Polarean, please visit www.polarean.com.
XENOVIEW® IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Indication
XENOVIEW, prepared from the Xenon Xe 129 Gas Blend, is a hyperpolarised contrast agent indicated for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of lung ventilation in adults and pediatric patients aged 6 years and older.
Limitations of Use
XENOVIEW has not been evaluated for use with lung perfusion imaging.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
None.
Warnings and Precautions
Risk of Decreased Image Quality from Supplemental Oxygen: Supplemental oxygen administered simultaneously with XENOVIEW inhalation can cause degradation of image quality. For patients on supplemental oxygen, withhold oxygen inhalation for two breaths prior to XENOVIEW inhalation, and resume oxygen inhalation immediately following the imaging breath hold.
Risk of Transient Hypoxia: Inhalation of an anoxic gas such as XENOVIEW may cause transient hypoxemia in susceptible patients. Monitor all patients for oxygen desaturation and symptoms of hypoxemia and treat as clinically indicated.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse Reactions in Adult Patients: The adverse reactions (> one patient) in efficacy trials were oropharyngeal pain, headache, and dizziness. Adverse Reactions in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients: In published literature in pediatric patients aged 6 to 18, transient adverse reactions were reported: blood oxygen desaturation, heart rate elevation, numbness, tingling, dizziness, and euphoria. In at least one published study of pediatric patients aged 6 to 18 years, transient decrease in SpO2% and transient increase in heart rate was reported following hyperpolarized xenon Xe 129 administration.
Please see full prescribing information at www.xenoview.net.
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