Partnership Formed Between Illumina and Tempus AI to Expand Genomic Testing beyond Oncology
In a significant move announced last month by Tempus CEO Eric Lefkofsky, the healthcare technology company signalled its intent to expand beyond cancer and into other areas of medicine. This expansion, Lefkofsky predicts, will see precision medicine become pervasive in the U.S., extending beyond oncology to areas like cardiology, immunology, and rare disorders.
The cornerstone of this strategy is a partnership with Illumina, a global leader in genomics. The collaboration aims to standardize the use of comprehensive genomic profiling and other molecular testing across all major categories of disease.
Tempus has a history of working with Illumina to develop diagnostic tools and assays. This partnership will now see Illumina's artificial intelligence technologies combined with Tempus' data to train genomic algorithms and demonstrate the clinical value of sequencing. The goal is to enable targeted treatment through precision medicine in areas beyond oncology, including cardiology, neurology, rheumatology, and others.
The expansion of precision medicine in cardiology has seen significant progress through partnerships with AI and genomics companies like Illumina and Tempus AI. AI-enhanced cardiac diagnostics, such as EchoNext, integrate advanced machine learning with ECGs to detect hidden structural heart disease with higher accuracy than cardiologists, potentially improving survival and quality of life by directing timely interventions.
Incorporation of AI in Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) improves diagnostic accuracy for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, while structured imaging follow-up and multicenter datasets are emphasized to refine risk models tailored to specific patient groups. These advances allow for more efficient, consistent, and comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation, supporting precision medicine goals.
The acquisition of genetic testing company Ambry Genetics for $600 million in November allowed Tempus to expand into areas including pediatrics, rare disease, immunology, women's reproductive health, and cardiology. The company's focus remains on oncology, which accounts for $1 trillion of roughly $5 trillion in total U.S. healthcare spending, but there are opportunities in cancer and beyond for precision medicine tools.
Lefkofsky notes that the move to precision medicine has taken longer than expected due to a broken healthcare system. However, developments in cardiology, driven by partnerships with companies like Illumina and Tempus AI, emphasize AI's transformative role in improving cardiovascular diagnostics, risk stratification, and personalized treatment planning.
The partnership between Illumina and Tempus is not the first collaboration between the two companies; they have previously worked together to develop diagnostic tools and assays. The companies plan to use these insights to build evidence packages that standardize comprehensive genomic profiling and other molecular testing across all major diseases.
Lefkofsky did not mention any specific timeline for the proliferation of precision medicine beyond oncology, nor did he mention any specific plans for Tempus to enter the diabetes market or the diagnostics market through the partnership with Illumina. Nonetheless, the collaboration represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of precision medicine, with the potential to transform the way cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed and treated.
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60453-z [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1553858317305737 [3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60453-z [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60453-z
- Tempus, led by CEO Eric Lefkofsky, aims to extend precision medicine beyond cancer into cardiology, immunology, and rare disorders, following a strategic partnership with Illumina.
- The collaboration between Tempus and Illumina is focused on standardizing the use of comprehensive genomic profiling and other molecular testing in various medical conditions.
- Illumina's artificial intelligence technologies will be combined with Tempus' data to train genomic algorithms, thereby demonstrating the clinical value of sequencing forprecision medicine in areas beyond oncology.
- Advances in AI-enhanced cardiac diagnostics, such as EchoNext, show promise in detecting hidden structural heart disease with higher accuracy, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
- The incorporation of AI in Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) improves diagnostic accuracy for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, supporting more efficient, consistent, and comprehensive cardiovascular evaluations.
- The acquisition of Ambry Genetics allowed Tempus to expand into new areas like pediatrics, rare disease, immunology, and cardiology, besides their continued focus on oncology.
- Lefkofsky emphasizes the transformative role of AI in improving cardiovascular diagnostics, risk stratification, and personalized treatment planning, despite delays in the move to precision medicine due to a broken healthcare system. [Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4]
