BostonGene Expands AI-Driven Oncology Collaborations with New AstraZeneca Deal

BostonGene has announced a new partnership AstraZeneca. The collaboration will focus on advancing oncology drug development while leveraging BostonGene’s foundation artificial intelligence (AI)-model for tumor and immune biology.¹

AstraZeneca will be applying BostonGene’s AI-model to accelerate development timelines and reduce risk through predictive intelligence on patient safety and efficacy outcomes in early clinical trials.

In a company statement, Jorge Reis-Filho, MD, PhD, chief of AI for science innovation, enterprise AI unit, AstraZeneca, said: “BostonGene’s platform combines deep biological insights with advanced AI and this collaboration will empower us to predict which patients will benefit from treatment helping us design safer, more effective therapies from the start. At AstraZeneca, we are focused on leveraging the vast and unparalleled potential of AI to accelerate clinical development and the delivery of innovative medicines to patients.”

AI approach combines pre-trained models with analytics

BostonGene’s approach combines pre-trained foundation models with advanced multi-modal data analytics such as cell-free RNA and tumor microenvironment profiling. Together, these tools can predict response dynamics and tolerability, encouraging better-informed biomarker development.

In the statement, Andrew Feinberg, president and CEO at BostonGene, added: “We’re honored to partner with AstraZeneca, a global leader in oncology innovation. This collaboration demonstrates the power of foundational biology and multi-modal molecular insights to reshape how we develop, de-risk, and deliver therapies to patients. It is a major step toward transforming drug development through AI.”

Collaboration with Kyoto University in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BostonGene struck a number of other strategic collaborations in 2025. In November, the company partnered with Kyoto University to develop advanced biological signatures in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treatment strategies.²

Under this partnership, BostonGene’s AI platform will be used to identify biological pathways and biomarkers influencing treatment response based on clinical data and patient samples provided by Kyoto.

New research in small cell lung cancer

Earlier in July 2025, BostonGene collaborated with the SWOG Cancer Research Network on the Phase II PRISM study (NCT06769126) evaluating biomarker-driven personalized treatment strategies in extensive stage small cell lung cancer.³

With a planned enrollment of up to 900 patients, the trial will utilize BostonGene’s AI platform to identify molecular subtypes and assign patients to treatment based on their subtype.

“By combining advanced molecular profiling with AI, we’re not only able to classify patients more precisely but also to advance therapy selection and accelerate the development of next-generation treatments,” said Nathan Fowler, MD, chief medical officer at BostonGene, in a press release.

Notable pharma partnerships with OpenAI in 2025

Outside of BostonGene’s recent work, the pharmaceutical industry saw an influx of AI partnerships in 2025. Notably, Thermo Fisher and Lundbeck both announced collaborations with OpenAI in October.⁴

As part of Thermo Fisher’s work with OpenAI, the biotech will be embedding Open AI APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) into areas of its business including product development, service delivery, customer engagement, and operational efficiency.

Other highlights from the collaboration include:

• Integration of OpenAI into Thermo Fisher’s PPD clinical research business, with the goal of shortening clinical trial timelines.
• Leveraging AI to identify therapies less likely to succeed earlier in development, allowing customers to reallocate resources toward higher-potential candidates.

Meanwhile, Lundbeck’s partnership with OpenAI is based around implementing ChatGPT into its global workforce. At the time of the announcement, Lundbeck shared it had already seen efficiency gains following a pilot program.

In a press release, Claus Thomsen, SVP, global IT, Lundbeck, said: “This collaboration is about giving our people new ways to generate insight and deliver impact. By integrating AI into our daily processes, we’re unlocking new levels of efficiency and innovation, bringing science and technology together to improve outcomes for people living with brain disorders.”

References

1. BostonGene and AstraZeneca Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Foundation Model-Driven Oncology Development. News release. BostonGene. January 6, 2026. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260106737099/en/BostonGene-and-AstraZeneca-Announce-Strategic-Collaboration-to-Advance-Foundation-Model-Driven-Oncology-Development

2. BostonGene and Kyoto University Partner to Accelerate Precision Drug Development. News release. BostonGene. November 12, 2025. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://bostongene.com/news-and-publications/news/bostongene-and-kyoto-university-partner-to-accelerate-precision-drug-development

3. BostonGene Announces Collaboration with SWOG Cancer Research Network to Drive Personalized Approaches. News release. BostonGene. July 8, 2025. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://bostongene.com/news-and-publications/news/bostongene-announces-collaboration-with-swog-cancer-research-network-to-drive-personalized-approaches

4. Thermo Fisher, Lundbeck Announce New OpenAI Partnerships Advancing AI in Drug Development. Applied Clinical Trials. October 28, 2025. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://www.appliedclinicaltrialsonline.com/view/thermo-fisher-lundbeck-announce-new-openai-partnerships-advancing-ai-drug-development