Artrya Enlists Ascension to Boost AI Heart Disease Study in US
Artrya Limited has expanded its SAPPHIRE clinical study with Ascension, one of the largest US non-profit health systems, joining as the fourth major participant. This move strengthens the study’s reach and advances the evaluation of Artrya’s AI-powered Salix platform for coronary artery disease detection.
- Ascension joins SAPPHIRE Study as fourth major US healthcare system
- Study to assess Artrya’s Salix AI platform and Plaque Dispersion Score
- Ascension operates 94 hospitals across 16 US states and DC
- SAPPHIRE Study targets earlier detection of coronary artery disease
- Focus on improving cardiovascular care for women with silent symptoms
Artrya Expands Clinical Footprint with Ascension
Artrya Limited (ASX – AYA), an Australian medical technology company, has announced a significant expansion of its multi-centre SAPPHIRE Study with the inclusion of Ascension, a major US non-profit health system. Ascension’s participation, pending final documentation and ethics approval, marks the fourth major healthcare system to join the study, which is set to commence in early 2026.
Ascension is one of the largest faith-based health systems in the United States, operating 94 hospitals and partnerships across 16 states and the District of Columbia. Its Cardiovascular Research Institute is renowned for clinical innovation and currently manages over 50 active cardiovascular trials, making it a valuable collaborator for Artrya’s research ambitions.
Advancing AI-Powered Detection of Coronary Artery Disease
The SAPPHIRE Study aims to evaluate Artrya’s Salix platform, which uses artificial intelligence to analyse coronary CT scans in near real-time. Central to the study is the Plaque Dispersion Score, a novel metric designed to improve early detection of coronary artery disease and better identify patients at elevated risk of cardiovascular events.
With Ascension joining Mass General Brigham, Piedmont Healthcare, and Huntsville Hospital Heart Center, the study gains a broad and diverse patient base, enhancing the robustness of its findings. Importantly, the study also emphasizes improving care for women, who represent a significant portion of coronary artery disease fatalities despite often showing no prior symptoms.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
John Konstantopoulos, Artrya’s CEO, highlighted that Ascension’s national scale and research capabilities will accelerate the study’s progress and help reach the target of six to eight participating centres. The collaboration underscores Artrya’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge AI technology into cardiovascular care and expanding its footprint in the competitive US healthcare market.
Ascension’s medical director, Dr. Andy Zurick III, expressed enthusiasm about leveraging Artrya’s AI solutions to enhance individual coronary risk assessment, reflecting a broader trend of health systems adopting innovative technologies to improve patient outcomes.
As the SAPPHIRE Study prepares for launch, investors and industry watchers will be keen to monitor the progress of ethics approvals, recruitment of additional centres, and early clinical insights that could validate Artrya’s technology and pave the way for wider adoption.
Bottom Line?
Ascension’s entry into the SAPPHIRE Study marks a pivotal step for Artrya’s AI cardiac technology, setting the stage for critical clinical validation in 2026.
Questions in the middle?
- When will Ascension complete ethics approval and formal contracting?
- How quickly will Artrya secure the remaining participants to meet its study targets?
- What early data might emerge on the Plaque Dispersion Score’s predictive power?
