Qureight Raises $20m for AI Drug Trial Speedup
Cambridge startup Qureight has secured $20 million in Series B funding to develop an artificial intelligence ("AI") "foundation model" of the chest, aiming to expedite lung and heart drug trials.
Founded by two doctors, not engineers, Qureight already partners with pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb. The new funding, led by Molten Ventures, brings their total funding past €27 million.
A Single Model for the Whole Chest
Traditionally, AI imaging startups build distinct models for each disease. Conversely, Qureight’s innovative approach revolves around a singular, adaptable model of the chest. From this base, they can swiftly create disease-specific models within weeks, accelerating trial timelines significantly.
Accelerating Clinical Trials
Qureight’s platform boasts several key capabilities:
- Speed: One of their tools reduces imaging decision times in trials from approximately two weeks to just 48 hours.
- 3D Mapping: They create detailed 3D maps of airways and blood vessels, enabling researchers to track a drug’s impact on disease progression.
- Synthetic Control Arms: Qureight offers AI stand-ins for control groups, potentially reducing trial costs.
Market Potential
The market they target—lung and heart trials—is projected to reach a staggering $27.5 billion by 2030.
From Doctors to AI Innovators
The startup’s unique origin story stems from its co-founders, Muhunthan Thillai, a chest physician who identified a need for improved CT scan interpretation, and his technical team, including a former HP global platform head and an Imperial College London machine learning professor.
European Focus
Despite US interest, Qureight chose to remain based in London, reflecting the growing flow of AI-in-medicine investment within Europe. They aim to double their staff to 100 by December.
Cristian Dina, CRO at The Next Web, contributed this story.