MAUNA KEA TECHNOLOGIES PARTNERS WITH METRODORA TO CREATE FIRST U.S. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE USE OF CELLVIZIO® TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT FOOD INTOLERANCE IN ADULTS

MAUNA KEA TECHNOLOGIES PARTNERS WITH METRODORA TO CREATE FIRST U.S. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE USE OF CELLVIZIO® TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT FOOD INTOLERANCE IN ADULTS

Cellvizio Food Intolerance Test (C-FIT) delivers real-time, in vivo visibility to accurately identify food intolerance in patients suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Metrodora will serve as Center of Excellence for patient care and physician training to enable broad access to this breakthrough procedure

Paris, Boston and Salt Lake City, March 6, 2024 – Mauna Kea Technologies (Euronext Growth: ALMKT), inventor of Cellvizio®, the multidisciplinary probe and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p/nCLE) platform, and Metrodora Institute, a leading multispecialty healthcare institute, today announced the formation of a new partnership. This collaboration aims to establish Metrodora Institute as the first U.S. Center of Excellence that will serve as the model of patient care and physician training on the use of Cellvizio for identifying and treating food intolerances in patients suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The Cellvizio Food Intolerance Test (C-FIT) offers a groundbreaking approach to diagnosing food intolerances, providing a real-time visualization of the intestinal barrier during a food challenge.

In the United States, about 10-15%[1] of the general adult population suffers from IBS, a condition reportedly linked to atypical food intolerance in the majority of cases, characterized by a group of symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both). This condition significantly affects the quality of life of those affected who often face a protracted and distressing journey of medical consultation that could last 2 to 3 years on average with no guaranteed path to identifying the underlying cause of their symptoms.

“This partnership is perfectly aligned with our strategic ambition and represents a significant step forward in expanding the use of Cellvizio in the food intolerance markets. The Cellvizio U.S. Center of Excellence at the Metrodora Institute serves as a key driver in increasing awareness among the medical and patient communities about C-FIT, positioning it as a benchmark method for food intolerance detection”,  said Sacha Loiseau, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mauna Kea Technologies. “There is an urgent, unmet need for the immense pool of IBS patients who endure debilitating daily complications. It is crucial to swiftly extend the C-FIT procedure to as broad an audience as possible.”

Metrodora was established in 2021 as a multidisciplinary care and research center for people with neuroimmune disorders, including neurogastrointestinal disorders. Metrodora’s state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center in Salt Lake City, Utah, offers advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to evaluate and treat a range of complex and routine conditions.

“We couldn’t be more excited about being named the first U.S. Center of Excellence for implementing and serving as a healthcare model for the C-FIT procedure,” said John Wirthlin, CEO, Metrodora Institute. “Many patients live with undiagnosed food intolerances, simply because existing testing methods cannot identify the underlying issues. Our vision is that Metrodora Institute will adopt novel technologies like Cellvizio to improve the lives of the patients we serve.” 

About Mauna Kea Technologies

Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company that manufactures and sells Cellvizio®, the real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform. This technology uniquely delivers in vivo cellular visualization which enables physicians to monitor the progression of disease over time, assess point-in-time reactions as they happen in real time, classify indeterminate areas of concern, and guide surgical interventions. The Cellvizio® platform is used globally across a wide range of medical specialties and is making a transformative change in the way physicians diagnose and treat patients. 

[1]

Hungin APS, Tack J, Mearin F, Whorwell PJ, Dennis E, Barghoui V. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): prevalence and impact in the USA – the truth about IBS (T-IBS) survey. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002; 97:242. (Poster #460)

For more information, visit:

maunakeatech.com

2024 Sherman Prize
Now Accepting Nominations

Honoring Excellence in Crohn’s and Colitis

BOCA RATON, Florida, March 11, 2024 – The Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation announced today that the Sherman Prize is now accepting nominations for 2024. Now in its ninth year, the Sherman Prize, which recognizes and rewards those who have gone above and beyond in the fight to overcome Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, also known as the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), has honored the outstanding achievements of 24 extraordinary IBD professionals.

“The Sherman Prize is the highest recognition of the talent and achievements in the field of IBD today,” said Dr. Maria T. Abreu, 2024 Selection Committee Chair and 2019 Sherman Prize Recipient. “Honoring the innovators who have devoted their careers to helping those who suffer from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis elevates their work and inspires others to excel, which is why the Sherman Prize is so meaningful. This is a great opportunity for our colleagues to nominate outstanding individuals who are pushing the boundaries of treatment and care.”

All nominees are evaluated by the Sherman Prize Selection Committee. In 2024, Chair, Dr. Abreu is joined by:

Dr. Jessica Allegretti, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 2020 Sherman Prize Emerging Leader Prize recipient.

Dr. Stephen Hanauer, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Dr. James Lewis, University of Pennsylvania, 2016 Sherman Prize recipient.

Dr. Uma Mahadevan, University of California San Francisco, 2022 Sherman Prize recipient.

Bruce Sherman said, “Since we launched the Sherman Prize in 2016, my wife Cynthia and I have been proud to honor the visionaries who share a deep commitment to addressing the unmet challenges of Crohn’s and colitis and lead the scientific research that not only improves the quality of life for people with IBD today but lays the foundation for greater discoveries in the future. We hope that by rewarding these achievements, the Sherman Prize may inspire excellence in others.”

Nominations may be submitted at ShermanPrize.org through May 24. The 2024 Prize recipients will be announced in the Fall and honored at the Prize presentations during the Advances in IBD (AIBD) conference in Orlando, Florida, December 10.

About the Sherman Prize

In 2016, Bruce and Cynthia Sherman established the Sherman Prize to provide national recognition and financial prizes to pioneering IBD professionals who exemplify excellence in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Since its inception, the Sherman Prize has honored 24 IBD practitioners from diverse specialties.

Two $100,000 Sherman Prizes are awarded annually to IBD clinicians, surgeons, researchers and/or academics, recognizing exceptional and pioneering contributions that transform the care of people with IBD. Sherman Prize recipients are accomplished experts changing the paradigm in IBD and inspiring future innovators through their achievements.

A $25,000 Sherman Emerging Leader Prize is awarded to an IBD clinician, surgeon, researcher, academic, or physician assistant, who, while early in his or her career, has contributed to an advancement and shows great promise for significant future contributions.

Selection decisions are made by the Board of Directors, following an extensive review and evaluation by the Prize Selection Committee, which is comprised of five of the nation’s preeminent IBD specialists.

For eligibility guidelines and to nominate an individual doing exceptional work on behalf of people with IBD, please visit:

ShermanPrize.org