Mayo Clinic Laboratories has announced a strategic collaboration with KYAN Technologies to validate and implement the KYAN test, Optim.AI, across the US.

The partnership is focused on equipping clinicians with enhanced testing capabilities to improve cancer treatment strategies.

The Optim.AI platform is an advanced ex-vivo drug sensitivity tool that merges small data artificial intelligence with biological testing methodologies. It aims to provide significant insights into effective therapies for patients diagnosed with cancer and to improve efficiencies in the drug development process.

Under the agreement, Mayo Clinic Laboratories will conduct testing for healthcare providers and researchers, facilitating informed clinical and research decisions to broaden treatment alternatives available to patients.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories president and CEO William Morice said: “At Mayo Clinic Laboratories, we are committed to offering a comprehensive portfolio of cancer testing.

“This collaboration with KYAN Technologies provides another avenue for physicians to have access to the most robust and reliable diagnostic options available, empowering them to make informed decisions for better health outcomes and deliver customised treatment plans for their patients.”

The KYAN test employs drug plates that feature a variety of medications, allowing for testing with smaller amounts of biological samples than traditional approaches, which typically involve selecting drugs and testing numerous combinations.

This system, based on phenotypic responses, efficiently addresses complex search parameters to identify safe and effective drug-dose combinations, thereby delivering essential insights for drug development and therapy selection for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.

KYAN Technologies CEO Hugo Saavedra said: “We believe that this collaboration has the potential to advance cancer research and functional precision medicine by providing researchers and oncologists with additional tools to support cancer care.”

In January this year, Mayo Clinic Laboratories partnered with Singapore-based molecular diagnostics firm Lucence to expand advanced cancer testing services.