Alterity Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ATHE) announced publication of a peer-reviewed study in NeuroImage journal showing that quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) MRI can detect iron accumulation in brains of patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and distinguish the condition from Parkinson's disease.

The study, titled "Quantitative Imaging of Iron Dysregulation in Multiple System Atrophy," used data from Alterity's bioMUSE Natural History Study conducted with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Researchers analyzed MRI data from 10 MSA patients followed for 12 months and cross-sectional data from 28 MSA patients, 43 Parkinson's disease patients, and 23 healthy controls.

The research found MSA patients showed significantly higher iron content in the lentiform nucleus compared to healthy controls and Parkinson's patients. Iron content in the globus pallidus distinguished MSA from Parkinson's disease with moderate accuracy. Higher iron content correlated with greater disease severity on clinical rating scales.

"The bioMUSE study was designed to give us tools we could implement in our clinical program, and QSM is one of the valuable tools we identified," said David Stamler, Chief Executive Officer of Alterity.

The study was led by investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in collaboration with Alterity Therapeutics. Daniel Claassen, senior author and Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, noted the technology provided insights into MSA pathology and the mechanism of Alterity's drug candidate ATH434.

Alterity is advancing ATH434 into Phase 3 development for MSA treatment. The company received positive feedback from the FDA following two Type C meetings and plans to hold an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA in mid-2026.

ATH434 has Fast Track Designation from the FDA and Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA and European Commission for MSA treatment.