Bridge Biotherapeutics and Brainomix Forge Partnership for IPF Clinical Trial
In a significant development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) research, Bridge Biotherapeutics has announced a collaboration with Brainomix to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) in its phase 2 clinical trial of BBT-877, an experimental therapy for IPF. The partnership will utilize Brainomix's e-ILD software, an AI-powered platform designed to analyze high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) images, to assess lung scarring and disease progression.
Enhancing Clinical Trial Efficacy with AI
The e-ILD platform represents a cutting-edge approach to evaluating therapeutic interventions in IPF, a condition characterized by progressive lung scarring. By processing HRCT images, the software aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of BBT-877's impact on disease progression, complementing traditional clinical measures such as forced vital capacity (FVC) tests. This innovative method could offer early evidence of the drug's efficacy, addressing the variability inherent in FVC measurements.
A Milestone for AI in Fibrotic Respiratory Disease
This collaboration marks Brainomix's first foray into fibrotic respiratory disease, building on its existing work in AI-powered biomarkers for lung cancer and stroke management. The e-ILD AI, trained on thousands of images from IPF and other interstitial lung disease patients, has demonstrated the ability to predict lung function decline and survival from baseline CT scans. Notably, the technology has been shown to be twice as effective as FVC measurements in predicting transplant-free survival.
Looking Ahead
Agnes Jung, Bridge Bio's head of project management, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, "We believe that the partnership with Brainomix will enable us to generate supplemental efficacy data from our clinical study on IPF patients, based on their combined imaging technology and expertise." The trial not only represents a critical step forward in IPF treatment but also serves as a real-world test of AI's potential to revolutionize clinical trial methodologies.
BBT-877, an autotaxin inhibitor, is part of a drug class that has faced challenges in IPF treatment, underscoring the importance of innovative approaches like AI in overcoming the disease's notorious treatment resistance. As the trial progresses, the collaboration between Bridge Biotherapeutics and Brainomix may pave the way for new insights into early treatment response and disease management in IPF patients.
