Later this week, Antaros Medical’s Chief Scientific Officer, Lars Johansson, will share insights on advanced muscle composition imaging at the SCWD Regulatory & Trials Update Workshop in Rome. His presentation will explore why precise muscle measurements matter for clinical trials, particularly in the context of incretin therapies and body composition changes.
Why body and muscle composition matter
Accurate assessment of body and muscle composition is critical for understanding treatment effects in clinical trials. Changes in muscle mass and quality can influence efficacy, safety, and regulatory decisions, especially in conditions such as sarcopenia, cachexia, and metabolic disorders.
Imaging methods of body composition in clinical trials
There are many methods for assessing body composition in clinical trials, including:
- Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA)
- Computed tomography (CT), and
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Each method measures body composition differently, therefore providing different assessments and suiting different clinical trial contexts and research questions.
MRI: A closer look at muscles
MRI goes beyond VAT, SAT, and lean mass. It can:
- Distinguish between different muscle fat components
- Assess individual muscle groups and compartments
- Provide exceptional precision and granularity of muscle composition assessments
However, MRI is not one-size-fits-all. How imaging is set up and performed affects its suitability for interventional trials. Lars will discuss different MRI approaches for muscle composition and why choosing the right method is essential for generating meaningful data.
Presentation details
Title: Muscle mass assessment techniques and why it matters in clinical trials
Presenter: Lars Johansson, CSO Antaros Medical
Session: Incretins & Body Composition Changes
Date and time: Thursday, December 11, 09.15–10.15 CEST
The SCWD Regulatory & Trials Update Workshop takes place December 10–11 in Rome, alongside the 18th Annual Conference on Sarcopenia, Cachexia, and Wasting Disorders (December 11–13, 2025).
About the SCWD Regulatory & Trials Update Workshop
Bringing together key leaders from regulatory agencies, industry and academia, the workshop will address critical topics related to cancer cachexia, sarcopenia, and muscle wasting, particularly in the context of weight loss therapies. This two-day event will focus on regulatory issues such as studies populations and endpoints in order to pave the way for future clinical trials and research in the field.