Aclarion, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACON, ACONW) reported first quarter 2026 results on April 30, 2026, revealing a 196% year-over-year increase in Nociscan scan volumes and a 64% sequential increase from Q4 2025. The company, which uses biomarkers and augmented intelligence to help physicians identify the location of chronic low back pain, said the growth was driven by new account activations and deeper utilization within existing sites, signaling increasing integration of Nociscan into clinical workflows.
The market opportunity for Nociscan remains significant, with approximately 5.8 million lumbar MRIs performed annually in the U.S. for low back pain. Aclarion believes this represents a potential $2 billion market opportunity for technologies that provide objective evaluation of discogenic pain as adoption expands. The company noted that repeat usage trends reinforce the value proposition for Nociscan and position it for sustained expansion.
Reimbursement progress has been a key catalyst. Nociscan has been reimbursed by Vitality, AXA, and Aviva—three of the four largest private insurers in the U.K.—providing validation and a pathway for broader coverage. Aclarion also launched a targeted direct-to-patient campaign in the U.K., including a video featuring Mr. John Sutcliffe, Consultant Spinal Neurosurgeon at The London Clinic. The video is available here. In the U.S., the company continues to engage with payers through the Nociscan Reimbursement Program.
Clinical developments include advancement of the CLARITY randomized trial, with a preliminary internal readout expected in the second half of 2026 and public disclosure of early interim results in late 2026. Seven ongoing clinical trials and multiple investigator-initiated real world evidence trials aim to support reimbursement discussions and potential local coverage decisions by commercial insurers.
Aclarion also strengthened its intellectual property portfolio with a newly issued patent covering use of AI in workflows of future products, which the company says will accelerate its ability to scale and enhance gross margins. The portfolio now totals 64 issued and pending patents worldwide.
Financially, Aclarion enters this growth phase with a solid foundation. As of March 31, 2026, the company had $19.0 million in cash with no debt. There were 2,444,871 common shares outstanding, or 2,882,371 on a fully diluted basis, representing approximately $6.60 per share in cash. The company also announced a $2.5 million share repurchase program. Based on current operating plans, Aclarion believes its existing cash resources are sufficient to fund operations into the second half of 2027.
Brent Ness, Chief Executive Officer of Aclarion, said, "Q1 represents a clear inflection for Aclarion. Scan volume growth accelerated significantly, driven by increasing physician adoption and stronger execution with our recently hired Commercial Directors in the UK and the Eastern US. Importantly, we are still in the early stages of commercializing Nociscan into a large and underpenetrated market, with nearly 6 million lumbar MRIs performed annually in the U.S. alone."
For more information on Nociscan, visit www.aclarion.com. The latest news and updates relating to $ACON are available in the company’s newsroom at https://tinyurl.com/aconnewsroom.
