Lunit Partners with AstraZeneca to Develop ‘AI Pathology Solution’

Lunit, a medical AI company, announced on the 18th that it has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to develop an AI digital pathology solution targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

This is Lunit’s first direct agreement with a global pharmaceutical company since launching its AI biomarker platform, Lunit SCOPE, last year.

The partnership will leverage Lunit’s AI pathology analysis solution, Lunit SCOPE Genotype Predictor. This solution uses standard H&E-stained tissue slides, commonly used in pathology, to predict the likelihood of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutations frequently occurring in NSCLC.

Traditionally, detecting EGFR mutations requires extensive tissue samples and molecular diagnostic tests such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or through liquid biopsy. However, these methods are costly, time-consuming, and may occasionally yield false-negative results for EGFR-positive patients.

Lunit explains that its AI solution can identify potential mutations within five minutes, accurately detecting even low-abundance mutated cancer cells in small tissue samples. This approach can help pharmaceutical companies expand the eligible patient population for their treatments while enabling healthcare providers to make faster, optimized treatment decisions.

Under this agreement, AstraZeneca will integrate Lunit’s AI solution into its pathology workflow, aiming for real-world clinical application. The two companies are also planning to expand their collaboration next year to include broader global sales regions and additional cancer types.

Cristina Rodnikova, AstraZeneca’s Head of Global Oncology Diagnostics, stated, “AI-driven solutions can optimize the diagnostic workflow for NSCLC patients and ultimately help improve their treatment outcomes.”

Lunit CEO Seo Beom-seok remarked, “Through this partnership, we’re extending our role from cancer diagnostics into the treatment realm with a global pharma leader. We expect a substantial improvement in treatment outcomes for lung cancer patients, the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.”