Biograph and Caristo advance coronary inflammation study in U.S.

Biograph and University of Oxford startup Caristo Diagnostics have partnered on a U.S. study of a new AI-based preventive cardiac marker in asymptomatic patients.

Using cardiac CT scans, the study will use Caristo’s CaRi-Heart and CaRi-Plaque technologies to evaluate whether coronary inflammation alongside plaque characterization can detect early heart disease, according to Biograph.

Inflammation often precedes plaque buildup and, when detected, can open a critical window for preventing disease, according to Biograph Executive Medical Director Michael Doney, MD.

The software quantifies "invisible" coronary inflammation. This study will be its first evaluation for U.S. research applications in asymptomatic patients traditionally seen as low risk, the firm noted.

The CaRi-Heart technology is already approved for use in Europe. The U.S. study aims to initially enroll 100 participants, beginning in October 2025, among Biograph's Black Tier members who are clinically eligible.