AI biotech company Owkin announced a partnership with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to develop an AI-powered tool designed to pre-screen gBRCA mutations (gBRCAm) in breast cancer directly from digitized pathology slides.
BRCA testing, which identifies mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, plays an important role in determining a person’s risk of developing certain cancers, particularly breast and ovarian cancer, Orkin said.
The purpose of this tool is to speed up and increase access to gBRCS testing for which some patients may not have been considered.
This tool utilizes high-quality data from more than 6,500 full-slide images from approximately 2,000 patient resections and biopsies. Half of them have gBRCA mutations.
Orkin is collaborating with Gustave Roussy and The Center Leon Bérard through PortrAIt, a French consortium promoting precision medicine through AI-powered digital pathology.
“We are excited to work with AstraZeneca to bring the benefits of AI to BRCA testing with our gBRCA prescreening solution,” Owkin CEO Dr. Thomas Crozel said in a statement.
“During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we especially want to highlight how streamlining the diagnostic process to determine BRCA mutation status can expand access to BRCA testing and identify more gBRCAm patients more quickly. IMPORTANT: Our goal is that multiple clinical studies will make genetic testing more accessible and accurate, allowing more patients to benefit from personalized care and reducing inequities in care. will be reduced.”
BRCA tests, which recognize mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, play an important role in determining an individual’s risk of developing certain cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer, Orkin said. As a result, knowing a breast cancer patient’s BRCA status is key to identifying familial risk and guiding treatment options, including response to targeted therapies.
“On average, women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have a seven-in-10 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 80,” said Kristina Rodnikova, head of global commercial diagnostics in oncology at AstraZeneca. said in a statement.
“This collaboration with Orkin underscores our commitment to advance precision medicine, address unmet needs, and identify patients at risk of carrying BRCA mutations to improve outcomes. ”
bigger trends
In 2021, Orkin will A $180 million (€135 million) investment from pharmaceutical giant Sanofi.
The companies announced that they will pay a total of $90 million (€79.7 million) to collaborate on discovery and development efforts in breast cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma and multiple myeloma.
June, oncology-focused digital therapeutics company Mika Health has partnered with AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo on a project called UNITE to provide digital treatments to women undergoing breast cancer treatment.
Mega Health’s app provides cancer patients with access to psychological support with the aim of reducing anxiety, depression and stress related to the disease. Patients can track medication side effects, receive medication reminders, receive education and nutritional advice, and schedule appointments.
In 2023, Absci, an AI antibody discovery technology company, has entered into a $247 million partnership with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to focus on accelerating the discovery of new cancer treatments using genAI technology. The project leverages Absci’s integrated drug discovery platform and AstraZeneca’s oncology R&D knowledge.
