Siemens and Biogen to Jointly Develop New MRI Tools

A new joint project has been agreed between two companies for the development of quantitative MRI metrics to improve decision making for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

The companies announced that they will develop applications for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners that can help quantify key Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease, and disease progression markers.

The agreement is between Siemens Healthineers and Biogen. Biogen is a leading biotechnology company and develops therapies for neurological, autoimmune disease, and other conditions. Siemens will contribute its expertise in the field of neurology, and in medical imaging.

MRI is used by clinicians for diagnosing MS, to measure disease activity, and to monitor the response to therapy by comparing sets of MRI scans made over a period of time. Automated MRI applications are now available for quantifying key MS markers such as new T2 lesions and brain atrophy, and enhanced data at the point-of-care could benefit patients with this MS.

Richard Rudick, MD, VP Development Sciences, at Biogen, said, "Biogen believes that the availability of high-quality, standardized data at the point of care can lead to a deeper understanding of MS, more informed treatment decisions and, ultimately, improved patient outcomes. We also recognize that the ability to generate research-quality data in the course of routine clinical practice can unlock the potential of the health care system to move towards precision medicine."