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Hyperfine Inc. (NASDAQ: HYPR) saw its stock rise 4.6% after sharing encouraging early results from a brain imaging study related to Alzheimer’s disease.
The company’s Swoop® system, a portable, AI-powered MRI machine, was able to detect brain swelling (ARIA-E) in Alzheimer’s patients with 100% sensitivity. These patients were undergoing treatment with Lecanemab, a drug used to slow down Alzheimer’s progression.
The early results came from a study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine, involving 31 patients. Each patient was scanned with the portable Swoop® MRI within a week of having a traditional, high-powered hospital MRI scan. The results matched up, suggesting the portable device is just as effective.
This is a big deal because traditional MRI scans can be expensive, hard to schedule, and difficult for patients to access, especially for older adults and their caregivers. Hyperfine’s small, mobile MRI could make it much easier for doctors to safely monitor patients without needing to visit large hospitals.
Dr. Tammie Benzinger, who led the study, said the team plans to test the device at local clinics and community centres. This could reduce the stress and travel time for families and make Alzheimer’s care more accessible.
The study is still ongoing and is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Society of Neuroradiology. It’s exploring how well the portable MRI fits into real-world clinics and treatment routines, especially for patients on drugs like Lecanemab or Donanemab.
Overall, this research could help improve early Alzheimer’s care by making brain scans quicker, cheaper, and more patient-friendly.