Aclarion Expands Commercial Engagement With The London Clinic to Grow Access to Nociscan Throughout Greater London

Rhea-AI Summary

Aclarion has extended its commercial agreement with The London Clinic to increase the use of Nociscan, a technology that helps identify the location of chronic low back pain. The new contract sets a higher price for Nociscan and includes efforts to secure payer coverage from private health insurers. The London Clinic, a renowned private hospital, will also work to expand access to Nociscan for patients and referring physicians throughout Greater London. The extension follows compelling results from an initial evaluation involving 20 patients. CEO Brent Ness highlighted the importance of the UK market and expressed confidence in achieving similar results in the U.S. market.

Positive

• Contract extension with The London Clinic to expand Nociscan access.
• Increased payment rate for Nociscan from The London Clinic.
• Engagement with private health insurers for payer coverage.
• Compelling results in initial evaluation with 20 patients.
• The London Clinic to promote Nociscan among referring physicians.
• Expansion into a significant market with over nine million residents in Greater London.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Aclarion’s contract extension with The London Clinic indicates a positive move for its revenue stream and overall market presence. The increased payment per Nociscan demonstrates that the solution is valued by a key client, which is a significant indicator of the product's commercial viability. This could potentially lead to improved revenue margins for Aclarion in the near-term. Furthermore, the effort to secure payer coverage from insurance companies could significantly expand the market for Nociscan, making it more accessible and thus driving up its adoption rate. However, it’s important to consider the risk associated with dependency on a limited number of high-profile partnerships. Should these relationships falter, the financial implications could be quite impactful. For investors, this development presents a short-term revenue growth opportunity, but they should remain vigilant about the company's ability to diversify its client base.

Medical Research Analyst

From a clinical perspective, the extension of Aclarion's agreement with The London Clinic is promising. The use of MR spectroscopy for quantifying chemical biomarkers in lumbar intervertebral discs offers a more precise diagnostic tool for chronic low back pain, which is a significant advancement over traditional anatomical imaging. This technology not only aids in accurate diagnosis but also potentially optimizes treatment plans, improving patient outcomes. The early success with just 20 patients is noteworthy, suggesting strong clinical efficacy. However, it is still early days and wider-scale studies will be important to validate these findings comprehensively. For investors, these clinical validations are important as they underpin the product's marketability and acceptance within the healthcare community.

Market Research Analyst

The strategic positioning of Nociscan in the Greater London market through The London Clinic opens up substantial growth avenues. London, with its large population and sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, is an ideal testing ground for mass market acceptance. The partnership's focus on engaging referring physicians and securing payer coverage is a smart move to accelerate market penetration. This approach not only facilitates broader access for patients but also strengthens referral pathways, which are critical for sustained adoption. However, a potential challenge lies in the healthcare system’s adaptability to integrate Nociscan comprehensively. Investors should watch closely how well Aclarion can scale this model to other markets and healthcare systems, which will be a true test of its scalability and long-term market potential.

Established in 1932, the London Clinic is the UK’s Most Renowned Independent, Private Hospital

Payment to Aclarion for Each Nociscan is Being Increased From the Original Contract

Contract Extension Aligns Aclarion and The London Clinic With Engaging Payers to Increase Access to Nociscan for Both Patients and Referring Physicians

BROOMFIELD, CO, June 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclarion, Inc., (“Aclarion” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ACON, ACONW), a healthcare technology company that is leveraging biomarkers and proprietary augmented intelligence algorithms to help physicians identify the location of chronic low back pain, announced today they are extending their commercial agreement with the prestigious London Clinic in London, UK. The contract extension establishes a higher price point for Nociscan, engages The London Clinic to secure payer coverage decisions from leading private health insurers, and aligns Aclarion with The London Clinic in expanding access to referring physicians throughout the greater London market.

“Aclarion uses MR spectroscopy to analyze the physiological status of lumbar intervertebral discs. Being able to quantify the chemical biomarkers content of discs in chronic low back pain patients adds an entirely new dimension of clinically relevant information that anatomical imaging alone simply can't provide,” said Dr. Simon Blease, Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist. “Having progressed through a careful integration of Nociscan into patient care pathways, we have found compelling results in over 20 patients so far. We are convinced this will be a game changer for how we will evaluate and plan treatment for this common and distressing clinical condition."

The initial contract with The London Clinic was aimed at allowing The London Clinic physicians to evaluate the clinical value of Nociscan in treating their chronic low back pain patients. After utilizing Nociscan in just 20 patients, the physicians saw enough value to support a contract extension aimed at increasing access to Nociscan for patients. Increased access is being pursued through outreach to referring physicians, increasing the reimbursement to Aclarion, and approaching the payer community to secure private insurance coverage for Nociscan.

“The UK is an important global market, and London specifically represents the large, dynamic nature of sophisticated healthcare,” said Brent Ness, Chief Executive Officer at Aclarion.  “We are pleased to extend our relationship with The London Clinic as the Nociscan hub throughout greater London, a market with over nine million residents. The London Clinic and their referring physicians have become exemplary partners delivering world-class spine care while serving as validation of our process to drive Nociscan to standard of care. We started with an initial evaluation contract for physicians to become familiar with the unprecedented biomarker data Nociscan provides and how to apply that data for surgical decisioning. After only 20 patients The London Clinic took the initiative in extending the contract by increasing the payment rate for Nociscan, advocating with payers for coverage, and working with Aclarion to expand access to referring physicians. This is the exact process we are pursuing with our KOLs across the U.S. at similarly prestigious institutions and we believe we will achieve similar results.”

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a global healthcare problem with approximately 266 million people worldwide suffering from degenerative spine disease and low back pain. Low back pain has been estimated to affect up to one third of the UK adult population each year.

For more information about The London Clinic, please visit: www.thelondonclinic.co.uk
For more information about the London Spine Clinic, please visit: www.londonspineclinic.com

About Aclarion, Inc.

Aclarion is a healthcare technology company that leverages Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (“MRS”), proprietary signal processing techniques, biomarkers, and augmented intelligence algorithms to optimize clinical treatments. The Company is first addressing the chronic low back pain market with Nociscan, the first, evidence-supported, SaaS platform to noninvasively help physicians distinguish between painful and nonpainful discs in the lumbar spine. Through a cloud connection, Nociscan receives magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data from an MRI machine for each lumbar disc being evaluated. In the cloud, proprietary signal processing techniques extract and quantify chemical biomarkers demonstrated to be associated with disc pain. Biomarker data is entered into proprietary algorithms to indicate if a disc may be a source of pain. When used with other diagnostic tools, Nociscan provides critical insights into the location of a patient’s low back pain, giving physicians clarity to optimize treatment strategies.  For more information, please visit www.aclarion.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 about the Company's current expectations about future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Statements that are not historical facts, such as "anticipates," "believes" and "expects" or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. These and other risks and uncertainties are discussed more fully in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are encouraged to review the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as other disclosures contained in the Prospectus and subsequent filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Disclosure

The information stated above was prepared by Aclarion and reflects solely the opinion of Aclarion. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of Aclarion or any of its products by The London Clinic. Mr. Blease is a shareholder in Aclarion.

Investor Contacts:
Kirin M. Smith
PCG Advisory, Inc.
646.823.8656
ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

Media Contacts:
Jodi Lamberti
SPRIG Consulting
612.812.7477
jodi@sprigconsulting.com

FAQ

What does Aclarion's extended agreement with The London Clinic involve?

The extended agreement includes a higher price for Nociscan, efforts to secure private insurance coverage, and expanded access for patients and referring physicians in Greater London.

How many patients were involved in the initial Nociscan evaluation at The London Clinic?

The initial evaluation involved 20 patients, showing compelling results for Nociscan technology.

What is the significance of the UK market for Aclarion and Nociscan?

The UK market, particularly London with its over nine million residents, is considered vital for expanding Nociscan's reach and establishing it as a standard of care.

What technology does Nociscan use to identify chronic low back pain?

Nociscan uses MR spectroscopy to analyze the physiological status of lumbar intervertebral discs, providing clinically relevant information beyond anatomical imaging.

What is the stock symbol for Aclarion?

The stock symbol for Aclarion is ACON.

How will the contract extension with The London Clinic benefit Aclarion financially?

The contract extension includes a higher payment rate for Nociscan and aims to secure private insurance coverage, potentially increasing revenue for Aclarion.