Houston, TX– Optellum, a leader in artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support for lung cancer diagnosis, has entered into a strategic agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb to accelerate early detection and precision care for lung cancer patients in the U.S.
The collaboration will deploy Optellum’s FDA-cleared Virtual Nodule Clinic (VNC) platform across multiple healthcare systems nationwide to evaluate its real-world impact on patient outcomes. The AI-powered platform is designed to identify early-stage lung cancers using data from routine CT scans—often conducted for unrelated reasons—through a process known as opportunistic screening.
Lung cancer remains the deadliest form of cancer globally, with most cases diagnosed at later stages when treatment options are limited. While screening programs exist, many patients fall outside eligibility criteria or remain unengaged. Optellum aims to close this gap by analyzing the 93 million CT scans conducted annually in the U.S., many of which could reveal pre-symptomatic cancers if assessed with AI tools.
The VNC platform incorporates two key AI technologies: a Lung Cancer Prediction (LCP) score derived from radiomics and imaging data, and a Patient Discovery AI that uses natural language processing to identify at-risk individuals from existing scan reports. The combination allows clinicians to flag and prioritize patients for follow-up by specialized oncology teams, potentially enabling earlier intervention and improved outcomes.
“Early diagnosis is critical in improving survival rates for lung cancer patients,” said Dr. David Carbone, Director of the James Thoracic Oncology Center at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. “This partnership presents a significant opportunity to diagnose lung cancer earlier and streamline care so the right patients receive the right treatments.”
Building on a previous research collaboration, Optellum and Bristol Myers Squibb will use the platform deployments to generate evidence, refine best practices for implementation, and expand access to underserved communities.
“This agreement is a pivotal step in democratizing access to early lung cancer diagnosis,” said Václav Potěšil, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Business Officer at Optellum. “By advancing AI-optimized care pathways, we aim to ensure that all patients—regardless of where they receive care—benefit from state-of-the-art detection and treatment strategies.”
The partnership aligns with growing efforts to integrate AI into routine healthcare workflows, particularly in oncology, where earlier detection can drastically improve survival rates.
