Bristol Myers Squibb Partners With Microsoft for AI-Based Lung Cancer Detection

The platform analyzes X-ray and computed tomography (CT) images to support the identification of lung disease and is currently used by hospitals across the United States.

Bristol Myers Squibb has agreed with Microsoft to use artificial intelligence–enabled radiology tools aimed at accelerating the early detection of lung cancer, the companies said on Tuesday.

Under the collaboration, U.S. Food and Drug Administration–cleared radiology AI algorithms will be deployed through Microsoft’s Precision Imaging Network. The platform analyzes X-ray and computed tomography (CT) images to support the identification of lung disease and is currently used by hospitals across the United States.

Bristol Myers said the AI tools are designed to assist clinicians in identifying hard-to-detect lung nodules and flagging potential cases at earlier stages of disease. Early detection remains a critical challenge in lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer, where diagnosis often occurs after the disease has progressed.

A key objective of the partnership is to expand access to early diagnostic capabilities in medically underserved areas, including rural hospitals and community clinics in the U.S. The companies said the scalable nature of the platform could help reduce disparities in access to advanced imaging technologies.

“By combining Microsoft’s highly scalable radiology solutions with Bristol’s expertise in oncology and drug delivery, we have envisioned an AI-enabled workflow that helps clinicians quickly and accurately identify patients with non-small cell lung cancer and guide them to appropriate care pathways,” said Alexandra Goncalves, vice president and head of digital health at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Microsoft’s Precision Imaging Network enables health systems to integrate AI algorithms into existing radiology workflows, allowing imaging data to be analyzed without requiring major infrastructure changes. The network supports multiple FDA-cleared algorithms and is designed to operate across diverse clinical environments.

The partnership reflects a broader trend of pharmaceutical companies increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to support research, diagnosis, and clinical decision-making. Drugmakers are investing in AI-driven tools to improve efficiency across development pipelines and enhance disease detection and patient stratification.

The move follows a series of recent AI-focused deals in the pharmaceutical sector. Last week, AstraZeneca said it would acquire Boston-based Modella AI to advance oncology drug research, highlighting growing industry interest in artificial intelligence–based modeling and analytics.

Bristol Myers and Microsoft did not disclose financial terms of the agreement or provide a timeline for broader deployment beyond current U.S. hospital use.

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