On the 16th, Lunit Inc. announced that it has joined the “New Drug Development AI Consortium,” which includes eight global companies in the fields of digital pathology and precision diagnostics.
This consortium was launched to support the new drug development processes of global pharmaceutical companies through AI-based pathology analysis and biomarker technologies. Its goal is to increase the use of AI throughout the entire new drug development process—including patient screening, clinical trial operations, and companion diagnostic (CDx) development—and to accelerate the pace of new drug development.
In addition to Lunit Inc., the consortium includes CellCarta, a global contract research organization (CRO) based in Canada; Indica Labs, a U.S.-based digital pathology company; German AI pathology company Mindpeak, Swiss AI precision diagnostics company Tivenix, Israeli AI precision oncology company Imagene AI and AI tissue analysis company Nucleai, and Chinese AI pathology platform company Dipath AI.
The consortium plans to combine cutting-edge capabilities in digital pathology analysis, tumor microenvironment analysis, biomarker discovery, and precision diagnostics with clinical operational experience. Through this, it aims to help new drug development companies apply promising AI technologies directly to clinical trials and to play complementary roles based on each company’s areas of expertise.
Lunit Inc. plans to support early detection and treatment decisions throughout the entire cancer treatment process using clinically validated AI technologies, including immune phenotyping and biomarker analysis, immunohistochemistry (IHC) quantification, and tumor microenvironment analysis based on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.
CellCarta will oversee the consortium based on its capabilities in clinical trial operations and regulatory compliance, while Indica Labs will provide digital pathology platform services, MindPeak will offer AI-based tissue quantification technology, and Tibenix will provide liquid biopsy-based precision diagnostics.
ImagineAI will accelerate the development of foundation model-based companion diagnostics; NucleAI will support ADC clinical programs using AI tissue analysis; and D-PASS AI will handle digital pathology analysis, focusing on the Chinese market.
Christopher Woong Selkarta, Chief Science and Business Officer (CSBO), stated, “Global pharmaceutical companies are seeking an environment where they can leverage a variety of AI technologies rather than relying on a single platform,” adding, “This consortium will effectively support the entire new drug development process—from biomarker development to companion diagnostics—by combining top-tier AI technologies in each field with global CRO capabilities.”
Seo Beom-seok, CEO of Lunit Inc., said, “AI and digital pathology are establishing themselves as core technologies for developing next-generation biomarkers and screening clinical patients for new drug development,” adding, “By collaborating with companies leading the global digital pathology ecosystem, we will further accelerate not only AI biomarker development but also innovation in precision medicine.”
Going forward, the consortium plans to support patient selection, biomarker discovery, the formulation of AI-based companion diagnostic strategies, and clinical trials across various disease areas, including oncology, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.
