Bristol Myers Squibb has signed a partnership with Microsoft to use artificial intelligence-powered radiology tools to speed up the early detection of lung cancer, the companies said on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, Bristol Myers will deploy U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared radiology AI algorithms through Microsoft’s Precision Imaging Network. The platform analyzes X-ray and CT scan images to help clinicians identify lung disease and is already used by hospitals across the United States.
The companies said the AI tools could help doctors detect hard-to-spot lung nodules and identify patients at earlier stages of disease, when treatment options are more effective. A key objective of the collaboration is to expand access to early lung cancer detection in medically underserved areas, including rural hospitals and community clinics.
Alexandra Goncalves, vice president and head of digital health at Bristol Myers Squibb, said the partnership combines Microsoft’s scalable imaging technology with Bristol Myers’ oncology expertise to create an AI-enabled workflow that supports faster and more accurate diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer and guides patients toward appropriate care pathways.
Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly adopting AI to improve efficiency across research, development, and clinical workflows. The collaboration reflects a broader industry push to apply AI not only to drug discovery but also to diagnostics and patient care, particularly in oncology.