Advancing Breakthroughs: Why AstraZeneca is adopting AI in the fight against cancer

By Steve UMIDHA

 

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca in collaboration with its partners is ramping up its reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fight against cancer.

The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said Tuesday that the integration of AI technology into its operations will be used to identify early cancer signs and develop cutting-edge treatments including screening, detection and diagnosis of the killer disease.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths, according to a 2022 study by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and rectum and prostate cancers.

Speaking in Nairobi on the sidelines of the launch of the Cancer Care Africa (CCA) programme, David Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Business Unit, at AstraZeneca, established that discussions around such collaborations with specific startups were indeed are on the cards, in what he believes would enable healthcare providers to offer proactive, preventative care and ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs for malignant neoplasms.

Fredrickson cited an ongoing AI – related pilot programme in Kenya between the drug maker and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital on detection and diagnosis of certain cancer types at the public facility.

AI in medicine is the use of machine learning models to help process medical data and give medical professionals important insights, improving health outcomes and patient experiences.

Besides early detection and diagnosis of cancer cases, AI has a range of potential uses within healthcare, including aiding in cancer management and treatment of medical conditions, improving patient engagement and increasing medication adherence, elderly assistance, health promotion, administering counseling, administrative activities, and even supporting education and learning for healthcare professionals.

The announcement by the research – based pharma is part of a wider approach birthed this week through the launch of the Cancer Care Africa programme in Kenya, a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the Ministry of Health, The Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO), Axios, the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI), and other partners to improve cancer care in Kenya by equitably improving access and outcomes across the patient care pathway, from diagnosis through to treatment and beyond.

Through a co-creation approach, the initiative is expected to foster collaboration among the oncology community.

To put that into context, data by the World Health Organization shows that there were 44,726 cancer cases and 29,317 cancer deaths in Kenya in 2022. This is set against a regional context that estimates 2.1 million new cases and 1.4 million deaths annually by 2040 across Africa.

But despite recent increases in resources invested in cancer, several critical barriers still hinder progress including a lack of disease awareness, limited diagnostic capabilities, an absence of structured screening programmes, and challenges in accessing treatment.

“The launch of the Cancer Care Africa programme in Kenya is a significant step towards improving cancer care for all.

This collaborative initiative has the potential to significantly improve access to diagnosis, treatment, and care, ultimately saving lives and improving the well-being of Kenyans impacted by this disease, as well as their families and communities,” said Susan Nakhumicha, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Kenya.

Launched in November 2002 at COP27 in Egypt, Cancer Care Africa is aiding countries across the continent to fight against cancer by advocating for policy changes to enhance screening and diagnostics, implementing health awareness and education programs to empower patients, as well as training physicians and healthcare workers and building their capacities, and striving to enable access to cancer medicines.

With these pillars, Cancer Care Africa strives to improve outcomes for all individuals affected by the disease, irrespective of their demographic, geographic, or socio-economic status.

“The Cancer Care Africa programme will support early detection, increase timely diagnosis, and improve access to treatment options for patients across Kenya,” offered Fredrickson.