AstraZeneca, Roche Diagnostics to expand AI pathology across nine Asian markets
AstraZeneca and Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered digital pathology and biomarker testing for breast and lung cancer across nine Asian markets, the companies announced.
The collaboration covers Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and will support education and training initiatives to improve HER2 assessment in breast cancer and TROP2 assessment in non-small cell lung cancer.
The companies cited significant diagnostic gaps in the region. Nearly half of all global breast cancer cases and more than 60% of new lung cancer diagnoses occur in Asia, while only 17% of clinicians consider themselves well-informed about advanced pathology technologies, according to Healthcare IT News.
The collaboration is intended to expand access to targeted therapies by reclassifying cases previously labeled as HER2-negative as HER2-low, and to enable more precise patient identification through what the companies describe as the first AI-powered companion diagnostic for TROP2. The companies said that matching patients to the right therapies could improve response rates, extend progression-free survival, and optimize healthcare resources, according to The Indian Tribal.
The MOU arrives as Roche deepens its position in AI-driven diagnostics more broadly. In May, Roche agreed to acquire PathAI, a Boston-based digital pathology firm, for up to $1.05 billion, with $750 million upfront and up to $300 million in additional milestone payments. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals. PathAI's AISight platform is designed to transition pathology from manual, slide-based workflows to digital, AI-augmented processes, according to Imaging Technology News.
The global AI-in-pathology market was valued at approximately $166 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $1.14 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 23.8%.
Posted by MedCloudInsider Editors on 05/29/2026