What You Should Know:
– Owkin, an AI-biotech company specializing in precision medicine, and Proscia, a leader in AI-enabled pathology solutions, have announced a strategic partnership to improve MSI testing for colorectal cancer (CRC). This collaboration aims to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of MSI screening, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
– Beyond MSI testing, Owkin and Proscia plan to collaborate on developing and commercializing additional AI solutions for research and diagnosis in oncology.
The Importance of MSI Testing in Colorectal Cancer
MSI (Microsatellite Instability) is a genomic biomarker found in a significant portion of colorectal cancer patients. It plays a crucial role in guiding treatment decisions, as patients with MSI-high tumors often respond well to immunotherapy and may not benefit from traditional chemotherapy.
Challenges in MSI Testing
While universal MSI screening is recommended for CRC patients, current testing methods face challenges:
- Cost: Traditional methods like IHC, PCR, and NGS can be expensive.
- Accessibility: Access to these tests may be limited in certain regions or healthcare settings.
- Tissue Consumption: These tests can require significant amounts of tissue, which may be limited in some cases.
- Interpretation: Results can sometimes be subjective and require expert interpretation.
AI-Powered Solution for MSI Screening
Owkin’s MSIntuit CRC v2 is an AI-powered solution designed to address these challenges. It analyzes digital pathology images to predict the MSI status of colorectal tumors, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and potentially more accessible approach to screening.
As part of this partnership, Owkin’s MSIntuit CRC v2 will be integrated with Proscia’s Concentriq software platform, a leading enterprise pathology solution used by major laboratories worldwide. This integration will:
- Expand access to AI diagnostics: Make MSIntuit CRC v2 readily available to pathology labs through Concentriq.
- Streamline workflows: Integrate AI-powered MSI screening into existing pathology workflows.
- Enhance efficiency: Accelerate the MSI testing process and improve turnaround times.
“While MSI screening helps ensure that each patient receives the best course of treatment, it puts added burden on pathologists and laboratories. We are thrilled to partner with Proscia and execute on our shared vision of harnessing the power of AI to transform medical research and diagnosis.Together, we will expand access to our digital diagnostics for patients globally,” said Dr. Thomas Clozel, MD, CEO of Owkin.
