ClearPoint Neuro Inc. (NASDAQ: CLPT) announced a 10-year development partnership with Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea to advance focused ultrasound technology for drug delivery to the brain.

The collaboration follows successful preclinical trials demonstrating intravenous delivery of large molecule tracers across the blood-brain barrier using prototype systems that combine focused ultrasound hardware with ClearPoint's navigation software and robotics.

The company conducted the testing in partnership with SONOCARELAB at Sungkyunkwan University's Natural Science Campus in Suwon. The prototype system is designed to operate in traditional operating rooms rather than requiring MRI facilities, potentially expanding access to the technology.

"This milestone has been nearly four years in the making, and demonstrates our continuous pursuit to be the most complete neuro navigation and therapy enabling company in the world," said Joe Burnett, president and CEO of ClearPoint Neuro.

The focused ultrasound technology will join ClearPoint's existing drug delivery methods, which include cannulas for gene therapy, delivery devices for cell therapy, and catheter systems for ventricular infusions. The company positions the ultrasound approach as suitable for delivering drugs to widespread brain regions.

Professor Jinhyoung Park at Sungkyunkwan University said the collaboration demonstrated successful integration of therapeutic ultrasound technologies with image-guided robotic neurointervention platforms in large preclinical subjects.

ClearPoint Neuro develops navigation systems for brain and spine procedures and provides preclinical development services for drug and device delivery to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.