Resonance Health Goup patent for diagnosis of liver fibrosis

The Resonance Health Group (ASX: RHT) today announced that it has filed a new US patent application claiming a novel non-invasive measure of liver structure with direct application to the non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Chronic liver disease is responsible for over 1.4 million deaths annually and is among the top ten disease related causes of death in the United States. This gives rise to an expanding multi billion dollar market for diagnostics and therapies for liver fibrosis and its underlying causes.

Following completion of the current research program, which was supported through the Australian Commonwealth Government’s Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF), Resonance Health will shift its focus towards the clinical development and commercialisation of a definitive non-invasive test for Fibrosis.

It is intended that the new test will utilise magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, with Resonance Health analysing the images remotely in the same way it does for FerriScan®, Resonance Health’s non-invasive liver diagnostic product which was launched earlier this year. Resonance Health has already demonstrated its ability to secure rapid regulatory approvals for a product of this type, and will be able to launch the new test through channels currently established for FerriScan.

Dr James Williams, Managing Director of Resonance Health explained the new patent application marked significant progress in the research and represents a greatly increased likelihood that a non-invasive test for liver fibrosis can be developed.

“With more than 170 million people worldwide being chronically affected by hepatitis C, a major cause of progressive liver fibrosis, there is a huge worldwide demand for a non-invasive test that quantifies fibrosis accurately and painlessly. Meeting an immediate clinical need, the new test will significantly expand the company’s market opportunity, whilst leveraging off infrastructure and resources already in place for the commercial roll-out of FerriScan.”

Resonance Health currently has a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) open to eligible shareholders. In light of this significant achievement and potential market opportunity, Resonance Health advises that the deadline for application under the SPP will be extended to 11 November, 2005 to provide opportunity for further shareholders to take up their entitlement.

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About Resonance Health Ltd
Resonance Health (ASX: RHT) is an Australian Healthcare company specialising in the development and commercialisation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) related technology for the quantitative measurement of iron levels in the human body.

Our mission is to develop and market our technologies to assist in the diagnosis and management of patients suffering from iron-related conditions, whilst delivering significant added value for our MRI customers who deliver our service through their networks.

In 2005, RHT began the global commercial launch of FerriScan®, its world leading non-invasive tool for measuring liver iron levels.

The FerriScan service involves an MRI scan followed by off-site processing of the images by RHT using its patented methodology to generate the liver iron concentration result. MR data is transmitted electronically via a secure data process to the RHT analysis centre from anywhere in the world. The test requires no new equipment purchase at the MRI centre level.

FerriScan provides a significant improvement over current blood markers and invasive surgical procedures. This improvement leads to increased clinical efficiency and accuracy in diagnosis, in addition to allowing optimisation of treatment programs for iron-related disorders. FerriScan is now positioned to become a routine part of the clinical diagnosis and management of iron loading disorders as well as playing a major role in the testing and monitoring of drugs used to treat these conditions.

FerriScan has received regulatory clearance to be marketed in the USA, Australia, UK and Europe. Further information about Resonance Health and FerriScan can be obtained from the following websites: www.resonancehealth.com and www.ferriscan.com.

Contact Information

Dr James Williams

Managing Director

Resonance Health Limited

Contact via E-mail