Medical imaging technology company Polarean Imaging plc (AIM: POLX) announced on Monday that it has expanded its Xenon MRI imaging platform into pharma-sponsored research through a new service model developed in partnership with clinical imaging intelligence company VIDA Diagnostics.

A global pharmaceutical company has selected Polarean's Xenon MRI clinical trial support services for a multicentre study evaluating an investigational lung therapy.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study, expected to begin in Q4 2025, will assess drug-induced changes in lung function using Xenon MRI at select sites in the US and Canada. The imaging sub-study will provide insights into ventilation, membrane conductance and red blood cell transfer, enhancing pulmonary drug development.

Polarean and VIDA will deliver site qualification, training, image harmonisation and biomarker analysis, ensuring high-quality imaging data. This revenue-generating model builds on past industry collaborations, reinforcing Xenon MRI's value as a non-invasive, radiation-free tool for assessing pulmonary function with greater sensitivity than traditional tests.