The company recently received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an enhanced version of its artificial intelligence technology, Ezra Flash. The new AI is designed to improve the speed, precision, and affordability of their full-body MRI scan that screens for cancer in up to 13 organs.
The MRI technology paired with artificial intelligence, pioneered by Ezra, offers a substantial tool in the fight against cancers that have historically lacked efficient screening processes, such as those found in the pancreas, liver, and brain. According to Emi Gal, founder, and CEO of Ezra, who spoke to Fox News Digital, "Everyone should have the right to know what is going on in their body." He emphasized the company's commitment to reducing the cost of such significant screening capabilities to make them accessible to a broader population.
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"Ultimately, our goal is to create a $500 full-body MRI that anyone can afford," Gal stated. With the introduction of Ezra Flash, the company has taken a significant stride toward this ambitious goal. The enhanced AI will shorten the existing 60-minute scanning process, costing $1,950, to a rapid 30-minute scan with a price tag of $1,350.
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Gal, whose personal experience with the risk of melanoma and losing his mother to the disease was the impetus for creating Ezra, firmly believes in early detection as the key to combating cancer. Citing that the five-year survival rates drastically improve for those who discover cancer early, Gal underlines the importance of routine screenings in preventing late-stage diagnoses.
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The impact of Ezra's groundbreaking technology is already evident. The company, which operates in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and Las Vegas, collaborates with existing American College of Radiology (ACR)-accredited facilities for its scanning procedures. Ezra has screened nearly 5,000 people and detected potential cancer in 13% of its members. Furthermore, the company enjoys growing support from the medical community, with around 200 physicians, primarily in primary care, referring their patients for Ezra scans.
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The company's AI technology facilitates faster, more precise readings and reporting of the scans. Gal elaborated on this process, explaining that their AI automates specific actions performed by radiologists during scan readings, such as measuring the size of organs or lesions and preparing for potential biopsies. This AI-supported analysis expedites the process and reduces costs, making Ezra's services more affordable. The technology also aids in translating complex radiology reports into more understandable, actionable insights for the patients. With Ezra Flash, radiologists can complete scans much faster, and the AI will enhance the quality of the images, making them easier to read.
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A patient testimonial further highlighted the life-saving potential of Ezra's full-body cancer screening. A 36-year-old man, who chose to remain anonymous, shared his experience of discovering an alarmingly large brain tumor through Ezra's screening process, enabling him to seek early intervention and join a clinical trial for a medication that has since proven successful.
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While acknowledging the immense benefits of Ezra's MRI technology, Gal discussed potential concerns about incidental findings, which might lead to unnecessary biopsies. However, he emphasized that Ezra has developed an extensive framework to handle such situations, using AI to generate clear reports and a scoring system to help patients understand their findings.
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According to Dr. Sodickson, chief of innovation in radiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Ezra's advisor and chief scientist, the FDA approval of Ezra Flash is an essential first step toward making MRI technology more financially and technologically accessible for the early detection of diseases. The ultimate aim is to transform the current paradigm of medical imaging, which, up until now, has predominantly been used for diagnosing diseases after symptoms have surfaced. Ezra aims to intercept this process by identifying cancer before symptom manifestation.
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The role of Ezra Flash in expediting the scanning process while maintaining high-quality images cannot be understated. "The quality of an MRI is determined by the level of 'noise,'" Gal explained. He clarified, "in technical terms, our AI is able to remove the noise that results from a much faster scan."
Notably, the company has grand aspirations beyond its recent achievement. Over the next two to three years, Ezra is targeting to provide a 15-minute, full-body MRI scan for a mere $500. This bold goal encapsulates the company's long-term vision: Establishing Ezra as the comprehensive, end-to-end cancer screening platform.
Looking at the future of patient accessibility, Gal expressed the company's objective to make the process of scheduling a screening as seamless and effortless as booking a ride on Uber. He further envisioned, "Our ability to scan more people in the future will come from seamless, easy, convenient access to any kind of screening."
False positives, where a test incorrectly indicates the presence of a disease, are a common concern in medical screening. Gal highlighted, however, that data from Ezra's screenings so far suggests a meager false positive rate of around 1%, which he states is "probably even better than a mammogram or a lung scan." These impressive figures are anticipated to improve further as the system, through continuous learning, begins to recognize subtle changes earlier, thereby preventing false positive results that can often affect one-shot screening studies.
Regarding handling incidental findings unrelated to the primary disease being investigated, Gal assured that Ezra uses a structured approach. The results are ranked on a scale from 1 to 5, with one being merely informative and 5 representing an emergent, urgent situation. This ranking helps determine whether follow-up action on a finding is necessary, aiming to provide clarity to the patients and facilitate informed decision-making.
The anonymous patient who discovered his brain tumor through Ezra emphasized the importance of clinicians differentiating between incidental findings requiring further investigation and those not. "The responsibility of the health care provider is to clarify and provide context for the information, explain their recommendations and then empower patients to make informed decisions about their own health," he advised.
Indeed, as we navigate this promising new era of advanced cancer detection, the key takeaway remains: "Everyone should have the right to know what is going on in their body." And with this ethos at its heart, Ezra continues to innovate, aiming to make full-body cancer screening accessible, affordable, and integral to preventive health care. The company's pioneering approach marks an exciting leap forward, not just for those at high risk but for all who seek to proactively manage their health in the face of potential cancer threats. Thanks to Ezra, the future appears a little brighter and undoubtedly more hopeful for early cancer detection and treatment.
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