JPM 2024: Generative AI Reshapes Medical Paradigms, Transforming the Past

With the rise of AI in 2023, pharmaceutical companies are investing in AI applications. Among them, generative AI is the most widely used. At the 42nd JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM 2024), many pharmaceutical companies have announced cooperation with major semiconductor manufacturers or chip suppliers to apply AI technology to medical applications. GeneOnline’s editorial team has compiled several AI-related collaborations to share with readers how AI will shape a new blueprint for medical life in 2024.

Related article: JPM 2024: AZ, Ginkgo and Moderna Provides Business Updates, Illustrating Optimistic Prospects

NVIDIA Joins Hands with Amgen to Build Drug Development AI

Biotech giant Amgen is working to use generative AI to rewrite drug discovery and development, and this plan is built on NVIDIA‘s data center platform DGX SuperPOD. The comprehensive platform will be installed at Amgen’s deCODE genetics headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland. The platform is named after “Freyja”, which means “giving life”.

Freyja’s applications include building maps of human genetic diversity, discovering drug targets and disease-specific biomarkers, monitoring disease and providing critical diagnostics. At the same time, the system will also help develop AI-based precision medicine models, which have the potential to achieve personalized treatment of patients with serious diseases.

Amgen’s subsidiary deCODE contributes de-identified data on more than 3 million individuals. Kári Stefánsson, founder and CEO of deCODE, predicts that within the next 10 years, doctors will routinely use genetics to explore uncommon diseases in patients. By using NVIDIA BioNeMo and DGX SuperPOD, Amgen is expected to change the cycle of drug development.

Veracyte’s Acquisition of C2i Could Improve Cancer Treatments

The US-based Veracyte announced that it will acquire C2i Genomics, a developer of minimal residual disease (MRD) tests, for up to US$95 million. The deal includes an upfront payment of US$70 million in stock, and additional sales based on sales within 2 years after the transaction closes. The $25 million milestone payment is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

C2i Genomics specializes in creating Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) tests that assess the presence of residual cancer cells post-treatment. Utilizing AI, C2i enhances its comprehensive MRD tests, swiftly extracting pertinent oncological insights from blood samples. Veracyte intends to leverage C2i’s technology for MRD test development, initially concentrating on muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The company aims to introduce the product via established urology commercial channels, streamlining associated medical reimbursements.

AI Company Cerebras Partners with Mayo Clinic to Enhance Medical Decision-making

Cerebras Systems, recognized for delivering customized AI computing chips for deep learning applications, has unveiled a strategic collaboration with Mayo Clinic, a well-known medical institution. This partnership involves Cerebras extending its support by providing Mayo Clinic with both software and hardware development services.

The collaboration seeks to utilize Mayo Clinic’s anonymized data, harnessing the power of generative AI and machine learning.The objective is to incorporate the generated AI models into Mayo Clinic’s platform, offering innovative solutions that encompass the creation of patient record summaries and the analysis of intricate medical treatments, including data such as images and genomic information.

Despite being considered a valuable tool in supporting medical decision-making, Mayo Clinic leaders and others stress that AI will not make decisions, and generative AI will not substitute for doctors. In an interview with Healthcare IT News, Dr. John Halamka, President of Mayo Clinic, underscored the unique and irreplaceable human qualities such as empathy, listening, respect, and personal preference. Furthermore, Andrew Feldman, CEO of Cerebras, emphasized that the AI model under development will collaborate with doctors to aid in patient diagnosis, treatment plan development, and overall enhancement of medical outcomes.

Author

Sinead Huang