Avitia Launches AI Platform for On-Site Rapid Cancer Screening
Avitia, an innovative company specializing in AI-powered cancer screening and treatment identification, has announced a $5 million investment from PacBridge Capital Partners to support its operations. The company’s platform provides clinicians and laboratory staff with on-site access to molecular testing, regardless of their location, facilitating faster treatment decisions while reducing costs associated with external lab analysis.
Having already performed over 40,000 cancer mutation detection tests, Avitia is becoming a key player in transforming cancer care worldwide. The platform is already operational in the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia. The new funding will enable Avitia to expand into new markets and enhance its flagship product.
“Avitia’s goal is to facilitate rapid and affordable testing, breaking down geographic and economic barriers to cancer care,” said James Lumsdaine, President and CEO of Avitia and Partner at PacBridge Capital Partners. “By leveraging the technology developed by Imagia Canexia Health, which includes AI tools created in Quebec in collaboration with Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, we’re already seeing the positive impact of Avitia’s tools on patient outcomes.”
The technology is addressing one of oncology’s most significant challenges: delivering advanced genomic testing quickly to help oncologists determine the best treatment options for patients. A study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) highlighted that the distance between cancer centers and testing labs is a critical barrier to timely and effective care, often negatively affecting patient outcomes. Avitia’s platform solves this problem by enabling cancer centers to perform next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing on-site, rather than outsourcing it to external labs. This significantly reduces turnaround times and costs, helping oncologists make quicker, more accurate treatment decisions.
The core of Avitia’s platform is driven by AI-powered bioinformatics, which further optimizes the efficiency of the testing process. This bioinformatics technology helps oncologists reduce logistical challenges, enabling them to test patients more quickly for personalized care. The ability to provide faster and more accurate molecular testing, combined with the platform’s AI-driven insights, is making a significant impact on patient care.
“Avitia’s technology, which uses minimally invasive liquid biopsy technology, has significantly improved patient follow-up and treatment response, particularly in aggressive cancers such as endometrial and ovarian cancers,” said Jessica McAlpine, an oncologist at the University of British Columbia and a long-time collaborator with Avitia. “In our recent retrospective study, we found that using Avitia’s liquid biopsy platform allowed us to detect disease recurrence months before traditional clinical and radiological assessments or biomarker progression.”
The positive impact of Avitia’s platform is also being recognized by local business leaders. “Greater Montreal is known worldwide for its artificial intelligence and life sciences ecosystems,” said Stéphane Paquet, President and CEO of Montréal International. “Avitia’s project not only supports the retention of highly qualified talent but also showcases the local development of technology that improves cancer patient health. This application of AI illustrates how Montreal is emerging as a leader in life sciences.”
As artificial intelligence continues to play an increasing role in healthcare, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of AI systems is paramount. Stéphane Létourneau, Executive Vice President of Mila, emphasized the importance of this factor: “We are pleased to welcome Avitia as a partner of Mila and contribute to its efforts in improving cancer diagnostics through AI.”
The platform’s modular design allows any lab to perform liquid biopsy testing on-site, making it a cost-effective and efficient solution for healthcare providers. By streamlining the testing process, Avitia’s technology not only reduces the time and cost of testing but also contributes to improved patient outcomes by enabling earlier detection and treatment.
Avitia’s AI/ML platform equips cancer centers with high-throughput sequencing capabilities, providing clinicians with comprehensive molecular data to guide treatment decisions. With the ability to conduct testing directly at the point of care, Avitia is helping ensure that local oncologists can serve their communities effectively without relying on external laboratories. This approach is not only making cancer care more accessible but also more personalized, as it allows for quicker adjustments in treatment based on the patient’s specific genomic profile.
With this new funding and continued development, Avitia is poised to expand its reach even further, delivering life-saving cancer diagnostics and treatments to more patients around the world. As the company continues to innovate and grow, it remains dedicated to its mission of reducing the barriers to cancer care, improving patient outcomes, and transforming the future of oncology with AI-powered precision medicine.
In conclusion, Avitia’s AI-powered platform is revolutionizing cancer care by providing on-site, rapid, and affordable testing, offering clinicians a powerful tool to deliver the most effective and personalized treatments. With its expanding global reach and the backing of strategic partners, Avitia is well-positioned to lead the way in transforming cancer diagnostics and treatment in the years to come.
