AI biotech firm Owkin introduced a partnership with pharma big AstraZeneca to develop an AI-powered software designed to prescreen for gBRCA mutations (gBRCAm) in breast most cancers straight from digitized pathology slides.
In response to Owkin, BRCA testing, which identifies mutations within the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, performs an vital position in deciding an individual’s danger for growing sure cancers, notably breast and ovarian cancers.Β
The goal of the software is to hurry up and improve entry to gBRCS testing that some sufferers might not be thought-about for.
The software will make the most of high-quality information from greater than 6,500 complete slide pictures from resections and biopsies of virtually 2,000 sufferers, half of which have the gBRCA mutation.Β Β
Owkin works with Gustave Roussy and The Centre LΓ©on BΓ©rard by PortrAIt, a French consortium to expedite precision medication through AI-enabled digital pathology.
“We’re excited to collaborate with AstraZeneca to deliver the advantages of AI to BRCA testing with the gBRCA Pre-Display screen resolution,” Dr. Thomas Clozel, CEO of Owkin, stated in an announcement.
“Throughout Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month, it is particularly vital to spotlight how by streamlining the diagnostic course of for figuring out BRCA mutation standing, we are able to broaden entry to BRCA testing and determine extra gBRCAm sufferers extra quickly. Our objective is to generate the very best medical proof by a number of medical research, making genetic testing extra accessible and exact, and subsequently cut back the inequity of care by permitting extra sufferers to profit from tailor-made care.”
In response to Owkin, BRCA testing, which acknowledges mutations within the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, performs a significant position in figuring out a person’s danger for growing sure cancers, together with breast and ovarian cancers. In consequence, realizing the BRCA standing of breast most cancers sufferers is vital to assist determine familial danger and steer therapy choices, together with responses to focused therapies.Β
“On common, a lady with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation has as much as a 7 in 10 likelihood of being identified with breast most cancers by age 80,” Kristina Rodnikova, head of world business diagnostics, oncology at AstraZeneca, stated in an announcement.Β
“This collaboration with Owkin underscores our dedication to advancing precision medication, serving to tackle the unmet want and figuring out sufferers liable to harboring BRCA mutations to enhance their outcomes.β
THE LARGER TREND
In 2021, Owkin scored a $180 million (β¬135 million) funding from pharma big Sanofi.
The 2 corporations introduced that they might work collectively on discovery and growth initiatives for breast and lung most cancers, in addition to mesothelioma and a number of myeloma, with a complete fee of $90 million (β¬79.7 million).
In June, oncology-focused digital therapeutics firm Mika Well being partnered with AstraZeneca and Daiich Sankyo, for a venture referred to as “UNITE” to supply digital therapeutics to ladies present process breast most cancers therapies.Β
Mika Well being’s app offers most cancers sufferers entry to psychological assist, with a objective of lowering disease-related anxiousness, despair and stress. Sufferers can observe uncomfortable side effects from their medicines and obtain treatment reminders, receive training and vitamin recommendation, and arrange appointments.
In 2023, Absci, an AI antibody-discovery expertise firm, entered right into a $247 million partnership with pharma big AstraZeneca, to concentrate on expediting the invention of latest most cancers therapies utilizing genAI expertise. The venture will make the most of Absci’s Built-in Drug Creation platform and AstraZeneca’s oncology R&D data.
