CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — ConcertAI has entered a multi-year strategic agreement with Bayer to accelerate clinical development in precision oncology by leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies. The collaboration will integrate ConcertAI’s newly launched Translational360™ platform, powered by Guardant Health’s liquid biopsy genomic data, to optimize drug development and enhance clinical trial outcomes.
Translational360™ is an integrated, research-grade database that combines longitudinal clinical, genomic, transcriptomic, and whole-slide imaging data sourced from over nine million cancer patient records across the U.S. through the CancerLinQ network. This comprehensive dataset enables deeper insights into the molecular and phenotypical characteristics of cancer, providing a more nuanced understanding of patient variability and treatment responses.
The partnership aims to address a persistent challenge in early-stage clinical trials, where outcomes can often be ambiguous due to unpredictable patient responses. By combining multi-modal data with AI-driven analytics, ConcertAI and Bayer intend to improve the selection of drug candidates and design of clinical trials, focusing on programs with the greatest likelihood of success.
“This collaboration advances the use of multi-modal, multi-molecular data integrated with AI/ML-based approaches to accelerate oncology pipelines,” said Jeff Elton, Ph.D., CEO of ConcertAI. “Together, we can enhance the discovery, translation, and development processes, allowing biopharma partners to deliver better medicines faster. Our work with Bayer, which builds on an established relationship, uniquely combines tissue and liquid biopsy data, offering critical insights into treatment responses and resistance patterns.”
The alliance will utilize Guardant Health’s liquid biopsy data, adding another layer of molecular insight to the Translational360™ platform. Helmy Eltoukhy, Chairman and co-CEO of Guardant Health, highlighted the importance of real-world data in enhancing cancer research. “Access to comprehensive patient data provides unprecedented insights into the tumor microenvironment and systemic interactions, helping guide critical decision-making in the development of targeted therapies,” he said.
Bayer’s involvement in the collaboration reflects its broader commitment to advancing precision medicine. “As cancer rates rise globally, we are focused on accelerating drug discovery and development through next-generation data solutions,” said Sai Jasti, Head of Data Science and AI for Pharma R&D at Bayer. “By integrating ConcertAI’s robust data platforms with Bayer’s scientific and AI expertise, we can leverage real-world data and advanced analytics to improve R&D productivity and bring transformative oncology treatments to patients more quickly.”
Claudio D’Ambrosio, Ph.D., Chief Revenue Officer at ConcertAI, noted that this partnership marks a shift in how cancer research is approached. “Historically, R&D relied heavily on cell lines and animal models that don’t always reflect human biology,” he said. “We are flipping this paradigm by starting with human cancer genomes and phenotypes and using AI to reverse translate. This approach allows us to develop therapies that are more aligned with human biology from the outset.”
The collaboration between ConcertAI and Bayer signals a significant move toward leveraging AI and real-world data to streamline precision oncology drug development, with the potential to improve patient outcomes and advance the pace of innovation in cancer therapeutics.
