Guardant Health: Guardant and Zephyr AI pair up to advance cancer biomarker development

Guardant and Zephyr anticipate that its combination of multimodal data and AI/ML will drive precision medicine in oncology forward. Image credit: dee karen via Shutterstock.com. Guardant Health and Zephyr AI have partnered to advance the discovery of novel cancer biomarkers, as more precise tumour treatment becomes ever more principal in healthcare. Under the collaboration, Guardant's multimodal molecular DNA repository will be combined with Zephyr's artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) capabilities to drive insights into cancer biomarkers in areas such as targeted therapy selection and drug response monitoring. According to the companies, pairing Guardant multimodal real-world data and precision oncology insights with Zephyr's proprietary AI technologies will accelerate research and development for biopharma partners. They added that the partnership will generate predictions of targeted cancer therapy response validated by real-world data, integrating biologic interpretability features that result in actionable scientific intelligence. Guardant's co-CEO Helmy Eltoukhy stated that the combination of the US-based company's molecular data with Zephyr AI platform will mark a step toward in realising the full potential of precision oncology to accelerate drug development and deliver better patient outcomes. Zephyr focuses on curating large datasets that it combines with AI algorithms to build tools and products for the healthcare industry. Backed by Eli Lilly, in March 2024 the startup closed a $111m Series A funding round to further develop its platform. Zephyr's CEO Allen Chao commented: "This collaboration represents the convergence of unmatched real-world data, leading-edge diagnostics and cutting-edge machine learning to enable more precise, scalable, and impactful oncology solutions. "By working together, Guardant Health and Zephyr AI can supercharge discovery and development needed to transform cancer treatment and deliver on the promise of personalised medicines for cancer patients." Guardant is perhaps best known for its Shield in vitro diagnostic (IVD) for colorectal cancer. The test gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in July 2024 after weathering an FDA Advisory Committee (AdCom) meeting in June over concerns surrounding the test's low sensitivity in identifying early cases of colon cancer. The AdCom ultimately voted 7-2 in favour of approving the test, determining that its potential benefits outweighed its risks. With application across myriad healthcare sectors, GlobalData analysis forecasts that AI's deployment in the space will reach a $19bn valuation by 2027. "Guardant and Zephyr AI pair up to advance cancer biomarker development" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network , a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.