AstraZeneca Buys Boston-Based Startup In Fresh AI Push For Cancer Pipeline

• The company added that the acquisition will embed Modella AI’s multi-modal foundation models and AI agents into AstraZeneca’s oncology research and development environment.
• Separately, AstraZeneca announced that the first patient has been dosed in a late-stage trial evaluating Datroway compared to docetaxel in patients with certain types of lung cancer.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca (AZN) has purchased Boston-based biomedical AI company Modella AI for an undisclosed sum, according to a statement from the startup on Tuesday.

Modella said that the buyout is aimed at expanding the two companies’ existing collaboration for advancing the application of artificial intelligence across the drugmaker’s cancer drug portfolio.

The company added that the acquisition will embed Modella AI’s multi-modal foundation models and AI agents into AstraZeneca’s oncology research and development environment. This would allow for the generation of new insights and allow for greater automation across workflows, the company said.

Shares of AZN traded marginally in the green at the time of writing.

Partnership To Acquisition

Modella announced a multi-year deal with AstraZeneca in 2025 aimed at integrating its generative and agentic AI platform into AstraZeneca’s oncology research and development organization.

The collaboration was aimed at supporting efforts to accelerate clinical development and enhancing biomarker discovery.

First Patient Dosing In New Late-Stage Trial

Separately, AstraZeneca announced earlier on Tuesday that the first patient has been dosed in a late-stage trial evaluating Datroway compared to docetaxel in patients with certain types of locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer is the most common cancer globally.

Datroway, meanwhile, is a cancer drug jointly developed and commercialized by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo.

How Did Stocktwits Users React?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around AZN stock stayed within the ‘extremely bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume stayed at ‘extremely high’ levels.

A Stocktwits user opined that AstraZeneca must try to acquire smaller drugmaker Omeros Corp.

AZN stock has gained 43% over the past 12 months. 

Read More: Fund Manager Flags Concerns About Tesla’s Dwindling Delivery Numbers, Notes High P/E Ratio

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

Share

·

Add us on