Roche Partners With AI Firm to Develop Algorithms in Companion Diagnostics

By Mauro Orru

Roche Holding entered into an agreement with PathAI to leverage artificial intelligence for the development of algorithms in companion diagnostics, tests used to help match patients to specific drugs or therapies.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company said Tuesday that the exclusive agreement between its Roche Tissue Diagnostics subsidiary and PathAI would help advance precision medicine, making it easier for patients to access targeted treatments. A companion diagnostic is a medical device that provides information for the safe and effective use of a drug or biological product, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

"This collaboration with PathAI will allow us to accelerate our ability to meet the demand from biopharma companies looking to develop AI-enabled companion diagnostics, and provide them with a powerful end-to-end solution in the pursuit of precision therapeutics," said Jill German, head of Roche Tissue Diagnostics.

Roche has already been working with the Boston, Massachusetts-headquartered technology firm. The companies co-developed an embedded image analysis workflow for pathologists under a 2021 agreement, allowing PathAI image analysis algorithms to be accessed within Roche's software platform.

Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 13, 2024 05:09 ET (10:09 GMT)

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