Aclarion Announces Addition of Keck Medical Center of USC as CLARITY Trial Site
'Keck Medicine of USC strives to offer patients access to new treatments and procedures, and tailored treatment options for all types of spine conditions – from simple to complex,' says Patrick Hsieh, MD, neurological spine surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC. 'The USC Spine Center's participation in the CLARITY trial demonstrates our commitment to deepening our understanding of spinal conditions to best serve patients' specific care needs.'
Keck Medicine of USC is the latest CLARITY trial site, joining Johns Hopkins Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Research Institute and Texas Back Institute. The principal investigator for the trial is Dr. Nicholas Theodore of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The CLARITY trial is a prospective, randomized multi-center study evaluating patients who are scheduled to undergo surgical treatment of 1- or 2- level discogenic low back pain. The study will enroll 300 patients at multiple high-volume sites across the US and all patients will receive a Nociscan prior to surgery. The study will be randomized at a 1:1 ratio of surgeons blinded-to-Nociscan and unblinded-to-Nociscan to guide the surgical treatment (Fusion / TDR). The primary endpoint is change in back pain as measured on a 100mm VAS Back at 12 months compared to baseline, with several secondary endpoints collected.
'The USC Spine Center has a long history of being at the forefront of innovation and research to advance patient care and we look forward to partnering with Dr. Hsieh and the USC Spine Center team on the CLARITY trial,' said Ryan Bond, Chief Strategy Officer at Aclarion. 'We anticipate the CLARITY trial to represent a turning point in how physicians are able to leverage Nociscan to understand and diagnose chronic low back pain for the millions of patients suffering from this debilitating condition.'
Chronic low back pain is a global healthcare problem with approximately 266 million people worldwide suffering from degenerative spine disease and low back pain. Aclarion's Nociscan solution is the first evidence-supported SaaS platform to noninvasively help physicians distinguish between painful and nonpainful discs in the lumbar spine. Nociscan objectively quantifies chemical biomarkers demonstrated to be associated with disc pain and has the potential to drive better surgical outcomes.
For more information about CLARITY, please visit: CLARITY Trial
To find a Nociscan center, view our site map here.
All organizations cited and/or quotes from individuals not part of Aclarion have reviewed and approved the contents herein.
About Aclarion, Inc.
Aclarion is a healthcare technology company that leverages Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ('MRS'), proprietary signal processing techniques, biomarkers, and augmented intelligence algorithms to optimize clinical treatments. The Company is first addressing the chronic low back pain market with Nociscan, the first, evidence-supported, SaaS platform to noninvasively help physicians distinguish between painful and nonpainful discs in the lumbar spine. Through a cloud connection, Nociscan receives magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data from an MRI machine for each lumbar disc being evaluated. In the cloud, proprietary signal processing techniques extract and quantify chemical biomarkers demonstrated to be associated with disc pain. Biomarker data is entered into proprietary algorithms to indicate if a disc may be a source of pain. When used with other diagnostic tools, Nociscan provides critical insights into the location of a patient's low back pain, giving physicians clarity to optimize treatment strategies. For more information, please visit www.aclarion.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 about the Company's current expectations about future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Statements that are not historical facts, such as 'anticipates,' 'believes' and 'expects' or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the Company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. These and other risks and uncertainties are discussed more fully in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are encouraged to review the section titled 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as other disclosures contained in the Prospectus and subsequent filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Contacts:
Kirin M. Smith
PCG Advisory, Inc.
ksmith@pcgadvisory.com
Media Contacts:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Rocket Lab Stock Soars Higher as Neutron's Maiden Flight Nears
Rocket Lab Corp. RKLB is currently on the cusp of a transformative milestone with its highly anticipated Neutron rocket approaching its maiden flight in the second half of 2025. To expand beyond its small-launcher Electron and capture the medium-lift payload market, while positioning itself to compete with heavy-lift providers like SpaceX, Rocket Lab launched the Neutron program. This medium-class, reusable vehicle, with a potential payload capacity of approximately 15,000 kg, aims to offer flexible, cost-effective access to space for a wide range of customers, including satellite constellations, government missions, and commercial payloads. To this end, it is imperative to mention that in May 2025 Rocket Lab announced that it will launch its Neutron rocket for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for a Rocket Cargo mission to support point-to-point cargo transportation, establishing a new era of commercial launch capability to advance global defense logistics for the nation. Earlier in February, the company revealed details about the ocean landing platform, a modified barge, for Neutron missions returning to Earth. Customized modification is currently ongoing on this barge, including autonomous ground support equipment to capture and secure the landed Neutron, blast shielding to protect equipment during Neutron landings, and station-keeping thrusters for precise positioning. These announcements implying consistent progress in the Neutron program have bolstered investor confidence, reflected in Rocket Lab's share price performance. While the company's year-to-date price increase has been modest, the past three months have seen a sharper uptick, underscoring growing optimism around Neutron's prospects as new milestones mentioned above are achieved. RKLB's shares gained 40% year to date, while the same soared 103.6% over the past three months. Other Stocks One Should Keep an Eye on The space launch services market has been witnessing solid growth trends driven by surging demand for satellite constellations, increasing government and defense investments, and the growing need for low-cost, reliable access to space to support telecommunications, Earth observation, and national security missions. Therefore, investors interested in this business realm may keep RKLB along with other industry players like Boeing BA and Lockheed Martin LMT in their watchlist, which already enjoy an established footprint in the space launch market. Boeing's products have powered human space exploration for six decades now. The company is the prime contractor for the design, development and production of the core stage, upper stages and flight avionics suite used in NASA's Space Launch System, the only proven deep-space optimized, super-heavy lift rocket built to carry astronauts and cargo farther and faster than any rocket in history. Lockheed Martin is another space stock that has contributed significantly to various space missions with its breakthrough technologies. It is the prime contractor involved in the construction of Orion, the spacecraft that will carry the crew of four astronauts in the Artemis II lunar mission. The Zacks Rundown for RKLB Shares of RKLB have gained 630.8% in the past year compared with the industry 's 50.9% growth. With respect to valuation, the company trades at a premium. RKLB currently trades at a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 22.49X compared with its industry's average of 10.06X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimates for RKLB's 2025 and 2026 loss have improved over the past 60 days. RKLB stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.5% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA): Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Boeing Stock Set for a Ride as NASA Progresses in Artemis II Program
NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight in its lunar return program, set to launch in April 2026, has reached critical milestones in recent months, reigniting investor interest in aerospace giant Boeing BA, a key contractor in the Space Launch System (SLS) program. On July 2, 2025, NASA announced on its Facebook page that the Program Specific Engineering Test for the Artemis II core stage had been completed. In early June, the Artemis II team conducted its first mission simulation to rehearse lunar science operations for the upcoming crewed mission. Earlier, in March, the integration of the Artemis II SLS core stage with its solid rocket boosters was successfully completed, which was another key milestone in preparing the rocket for launch. To this end, it is imperative to mention that the SLS rocket, designed to carry astronauts farther into space than ever before, is led by Boeing as the prime contractor for its core stage, upper stage, and avionics systems. The jet giant is currently building the core stages for all future Artemis missions. Thus, for Boeing, Artemis II represents more than just a technological triumph — it's a strategic revenue driver. With the company's Defense, Space & Security segment accounting for nearly 36% of total revenues in 2024, space programs like Artemis are key to Boeing's efforts to gain from a diversified portfolio beyond its struggling commercial aviation business and provide it with a significant financial cushion. With Artemis II on track, NASA's commitment to sustaining the Artemis program through Artemis III and beyond implies recurring revenue potential for Boeing over the long run, given its deep involvement in every SLS flight configuration. As investor interest in space stocks has been gaining increasing traction these days, the continued success of the Artemis mission should strengthen Boeing's positioning in the $500 billion global space economy and offer a promising growth vector for its shares. The potential upside reflected in BA's price target further supports this thesis. Based on short-term price targets provided by 22 analysts, the average Zacks price target for Boeing implies a 6.4% upside from its last closing price. Other Space Stocks Warrant a Look Other stocks, involved in the SLS program and Artemis missions, like Lockheed Martin LMT and L3Harris Technologies Inc. LHX, also stand to benefit from the steady progress of the Artemis II mission. Notably, Lockheed is the prime contractor involved in the construction of Orion, the spacecraft that will carry the crew of four astronauts in the Artemis II mission. In May 2025, LMT achieved a significant milestone in the development of NASA's Orion spacecraft by officially transferring it to NASA's Exploration Ground Systems team, following the completion of the spacecraft's assembly and testing. On the other hand, L3Harris is involved in the Artemis II mission through its Aerojet Rocketdyne business unit, which provides the RS-25 engines that power the SLS core stage. In May 2025, Aerojet Rocketdyne completed installation of all four RS-25 main engines on the core stage of NASA's second SLS exploration rocket, which will be used in the Artemis II mission. The Zacks Rundown for BA Shares of Boeing have risen 22% year to date compared with the industry 's growth of 22.2%. From a valuation standpoint, BA is currently trading at a forward 12-month sales multiple of 1.80X, a roughly 18.9% discount when stacked up with the industry average of 2.22X. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BA's 2025 and 2026 sales implies a year-over-year uptick of 25.6% and 16.2%, respectively. The same for its earnings per share for 2025 has moved north over the past 60 days, while the same for 2026 has moved south. BA stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.5% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Boeing Company (BA): Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT): Free Stock Analysis Report L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
UnitedHealth Under Fire as Medicaid & Centene Bombshell Rattle Sector
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated UNH continues to face challenges amid a turbulent healthcare insurance landscape. The passage of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' through Congress, ready for President Donald Trump's signature, threatens to significantly reduce federal Medicaid spending. According to reports, approximately 11.8 million Americans are expected to lose Medicaid coverage by 2034, with 5.2 million affected by new work requirements alone. To curb state-level Medicaid expenditures, the bill gradually limits the use of 'provider taxes' as a revenue source. However, it also allocates $50 billion in funding to support rural hospitals impacted by these cuts. While insurers like UnitedHealth and Humana Inc. HUM may encounter short-term pressure from shrinking Medicaid rolls, they could ultimately benefit as displaced members shift toward private coverage options. UnitedHealth's Medicaid membership declined 4% in 2023, 5.2% in 2024, and 1.4% in the first quarter of 2025. The proposed elimination of ACA marketplace tax credits will likely propel more people into employer-sponsored plans. Meanwhile, Medicare Advantage may gain traction, as seniors grapple with increased out-of-pocket expenses due to rollbacks in Medicare Savings Programs. UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage enrollment rose by 8.3% in 2023, 1.9% in 2024, and 6.3% in the first quarter of 2025. Another major development shook the market as Centene Corporation CNC, a major Medicaid player, withdrew its 2025 earnings guidance late Tuesday, citing unexpected enrollment shifts and higher medical costs. The move, mirroring UnitedHealth's earlier decision, rattled the managed care sector. Centene shares witnessed massive declines following the news, and peers like UnitedHealth and Humana followed suit. Centene shares plummeted 41.2% following the announcement, dragging down peers: UnitedHealth and Humana dropped 5.4% and 5.1%, respectively, despite broader market gains driven by tech strength and encouraging jobs data. Price Performance Comparison – UNH, HUM & CNC Image Source: Zacks Investment Research UnitedHealth's Valuation and Estimates From a valuation standpoint, UnitedHealth trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.99, up from the industry average of 11.49. UNH currently carries a Value Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth's 2025 earnings is pegged at $22.07 per share, implying a 20.2% drop from the year-ago period. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.5% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report Humana Inc. (HUM): Free Stock Analysis Report Centene Corporation (CNC): Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (
