Revolutionary pain
visualization technology
Lutroo Imaging is a clinical-stage company with groundbreaking technology that aims to enable pain visualization. There are currently no reliable tools to measure pain objectively, and health care providers must rely on a patient’s subjective reports and observations of behavior to determine the location and severity of pain. This hampers both effective pain management and the development of new pain medications.
Pain is difficult to diagnose and treat effectively
Chronic pain is the leading cause of disease burden globally. One in five adults suffer from chronic pain; 50M in the USA. The economic burden in the USA is approaching $1T. 85% of patients never achieve pain freedom, up to 40% of back surgeries are unsuccessful, and 98% of pain therapies fail clinical trials. $100B is spent annually on diagnostic imaging, like MRI and CT, which cannot reliably identify the pain source or objectively measure pain. This means physicians often resort to guesswork, which is inefficient and prolongs suffering.
adults suffer from chronic pain worldwide
The economic burden in the United States is approaching $1 trillion
average healthcare visits before proper diagnosis
of patients never achieve pain freedom
Radiocaine: faster, cheaper, accurate diagnosis
Radiocaine is an imaging technology for locating the source of pain and measuring its intensity. It aims to improve pain management and support clinical trials, helping to make treatments more effective and advance new therapies.
Surgery is more than 90% effective when the cause is accurately diagnosed
PET infrastructure is widespread. There are 2,500 PET scanners in the USA and over 5,600 worldwide
A Radiocaine PET scan could identify the pain source in under an hour, saving considerable healthcare resources. Accurately diagnosing the cause of pain would enable appropriate therapy, sooner.
Localizing pain sources: the science behind Radiocaine
Radiocaine is a PET imaging radioisotope (18F) whose presence is detected by a medical imaging PET machine. Radiocaine binds to a component in nerve cells that is required for normal function but is significantly enhanced in pain-transmitting nerves: sodium channels. Through this specific labeling, Radiocaine can potentially localize the pain generator and measure the amount of sodium channels, thereby potentially aiding clinicians in localizing the source of pain and measuring its intensity. Drugs that block sodium channels in nerves reduce pain.
Tony’s pain journey
"I understand the struggles of chronic pain firsthand. After a back injury, I went from climbing one of the world’s highest peaks to being unable to hold my newborn daughter. An MRI showed a disc tear in my lower spine, and after three years of failed treatments, surgery was recommended. A new evaluation found the pain actually came from my pelvis, likely due to a change in my gait from the disc tear. Once the right issue was treated, my pain significantly improved. If Radiocaine had been available, the real source could have been identified sooner, saving time, resources, and improving my quality of life. Millions still suffer without an accurate diagnosis."
Radiocaine clinical development
Selected accomplishments to date
Radiocaine Proof-of-Concept
Proof-of-concept that Radiocaine is an accurate, objective pain measurement and localization tool (published December 2022 in ACS Chemical Neuroscience)
2022 Winners of AAPM-MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge
Lutroo Imaging beat out 70 other startups and early-stage companies to take home the grand prize at the inaugural American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) and MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge
2022 MassChallenge Switzerland Finalist
Lutroo Imaging was selected from over 1,100 startups, to be part of the 2022 MassChallenge Switzerland Accelerator Program
Pre-clinical studies completed Q2 2023
Phase 1 clinical trial launching Q4 2024
NIH HEAL Initiative award recipient
Funding for early-stage clinical trials
Awards
Lutroo Imaging took home the grand prize at the inaugural American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) and MIT Hacking Medicine Innovation Challenge.
Lutroo Imaging was selected from over 1,100 startups, to be part of the 2022 MassChallenge Switzerland Accelerator Program.
In 2023, Lutroo Imaging was awarded research funding through the NIH HEAL Initiative, recognizing their commitment to advancing pain research and treatment solutions.
Testimonials
Read testimonials from doctors and specialists who understand the potential benefits of Radiocaine
"Lutroo’s work on visualizing and measuring pain in vivo, which could guide personalized therapies, enhance presurgical planning, and complement existing diagnostics. It may also improve patient selection for clinical trials and treatment monitoring. The compound shows promise for diagnosing and treating chronic pain and other conditions, warranting further exploration."
M.D., Ph.D.
"As a radiologist, I see tremendous unmet need for improved chronic pain diagnosis and localization. A significant subset of patients lack a specific pain etiology despite extensive workup. Radiocaine could be a powerful new diagnostic tool in chronic pain workup, localizing pain generators in a way not previously possible with standard imaging."
M.D.
Meet the team
Braxton is an experienced biomedical entrepreneur. He has led drug/radiotracer development projects from discovery to Phase II clinical trials.
Tony is a Critical Care RN and Biomedical Engineer. Co-founder of Redpoint Imaging (PET radiotracer production for an underserved market). Complex project planning and business management expertise.
Donald is former Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President at the American College of Radiology. Co-founder of RadPharm, an international medical imaging core lab (acquired in 2008).
David served as CMO at Radiopharm Theranostics and previously as Professor of Nuclear Medicine at Weill Cornell’s Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center. Former VP of Imaging at Endocyte, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
This website may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events, business strategies, financial results, and other expectations. These statements are based on current assumptions and beliefs, and while they reflect Lutroo’s outlook, actual outcomes may differ materially due to factors beyond our control. We do not undertake any obligation to update these statements to reflect changes in circumstances or unforeseen events. Please consider all associated risks and uncertainties before making decisions based on these forward-looking statements.