Artrya’s SAPPHIRE Study Gains Mass General Brigham, Launching Early 2026 with 8 U.S. Sites
Artrya secures participation from Mass General Brigham, a leading U.S. cardiovascular research center, in its pivotal SAPPHIRE Study launching in early 2026. This collaboration aims to validate Artrya’s AI-powered Salix platform for earlier and more effective coronary artery disease detection.
- Mass General Brigham confirms in-principle participation in SAPPHIRE Study
- Dr. Ron Blankstein appointed Principal Investigator of the study
- SAPPHIRE Study to start early 2026 with 6–8 high-volume U.S. cardiology centers
- Study evaluates Artrya’s Salix AI platform’s ability to detect coronary artery disease
- Adds prestigious U.S. sites Piedmont Healthcare and Huntsville Hospital Heart Center
A Strategic U.S. Partnership
Artrya Limited (ASX – AYA), an Australian medical technology company focused on AI-driven cardiac diagnostics, has announced a significant milestone in its clinical validation journey. Mass General Brigham, one of the United States’ foremost cardiovascular research and care institutions, has agreed in principle to participate in Artrya’s upcoming SAPPHIRE Study. This retrospective, multi-centre trial is slated to commence in early 2026 and will include 6 to 8 high-volume U.S. cardiology centers.
Mass General Brigham’s involvement brings considerable weight to the study, given its reputation as a global leader in cardiovascular care and research. With an annual research budget nearing $2 billion and over 3,700 active clinical trials, the institution’s participation underscores the potential impact of Artrya’s Salix platform in transforming coronary artery disease detection.
The SAPPHIRE Study and Salix Platform
The SAPPHIRE Study aims to evaluate the clinical and prognostic value of Artrya’s Salix AI-powered cloud platform, which analyses coronary CT scans to identify early biomarkers of heart disease. Central to the study is the assessment of the proprietary Plaque Dispersion Score (PDS), designed to improve the identification of patients at elevated risk of cardiovascular events.
By leveraging AI technology, Salix promises near real-time, point-of-care assessment that could enable clinicians to detect coronary artery disease earlier and manage it more effectively. The study’s retrospective design will utilize real-world data from multiple high-volume centers, including Piedmont Healthcare and Huntsville Hospital Heart Center, alongside Mass General Brigham.
Leadership and Expertise
Dr. Ron Blankstein, Director of Cardiac Computed Tomography and Preventive Cardiologist at Mass General Brigham, has been appointed Principal Investigator of the SAPPHIRE Study. Dr. Blankstein is a highly respected figure in cardiovascular imaging and preventive cardiology, with extensive experience in multimodality imaging and a prolific research record exceeding 600 publications.
His leadership is expected to be instrumental in guiding the study’s clinical rigor and ensuring that the findings translate into meaningful improvements in patient care. Dr. Blankstein’s involvement also signals strong alignment between Artrya’s technology and leading-edge clinical research priorities in cardiovascular disease prevention.
Implications for Artrya’s U.S. Expansion
The inclusion of Mass General Brigham not only enhances the scientific credibility of the SAPPHIRE Study but also supports Artrya’s broader commercial ambitions in the United States. With Mass General Brigham’s extensive patient volume and research infrastructure, Artrya gains a critical partner to validate its technology and accelerate regulatory and market access pathways.
CEO John Konstantopoulos highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration, emphasizing the value of Mass General Brigham’s cardiovascular research center and its reach across New England and the Northeast. This partnership is poised to strengthen Artrya’s position in a competitive and rapidly evolving medical technology landscape.
Bottom Line?
Mass General Brigham’s participation marks a pivotal step for Artrya’s clinical validation and U.S. market growth, with study results eagerly awaited.
Questions in the middle?
- When will the SAPPHIRE Study’s interim and final results be available to investors?
- How might the study outcomes influence regulatory approvals and commercial adoption in the U.S.?
- What are the next steps for Artrya’s expansion beyond the initial 6–8 U.S. centers?
