Portable MRI specialist Hyperfine announces plans to expand overseas

Portable MRI specialist Hyperfine Inc. is expanding overseas into two new countries, the company announced Tuesday.

The Guilford, Connecticut, firm plans to set up shop in the U.K. and Pakistan. It’s the start of a larger commercial expansion goal to enter four additional countries within the next six months.

Hyperfine’s U.K. endeavor will be led by Yossi Cohen, MD, who has been hired as U.K senior medical director. Cohen will oversee clinical and commercial operations along with regulatory efforts.

In Pakistan, Omer Manya will be responsible for building up the Swoop modality’s presence. Medequips, a local imaging specialist, will take on the marketing, distribution and sales of the system throughout the country.

“The promise of Hyperfine is to dramatically increase the presence of MRI in clinical environments around the world,” President and CEO Dave Scott said in a statement. “Expansion to the U.K. and Pakistan is a milestone moment and tremendous opportunity as we step forward to meet the global demand for better imaging access and ultimately drive a more comprehensive and efficient care continuum.”

Hyperfine first made waves in February 2020 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared its Swoop technology for pediatric brain imaging. And earlier this year, the firm secured a $90 million infusion of capital to “aggressively” advance its commercial expansion efforts.

The imaging disrupter recently went public on the Nasdaq with a $580 million valuation. It also combined with brain measurement specialist Liminal Sciences to form a special-purpose acquisition company based in the Cayman Islands.

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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.

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