BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (May 8, 2024) – CerFlux, Inc., creators of advanced personalized medicine technology for cancer announced today that its CEO, Dr. Karim I. Budhwani, will be leading a panel discussion on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer drug discovery at the upcoming BIO International Convention.

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The panel discussion, titled "The Oncology Endgame: Assemble and Shine with Precision Medicine, or Lose." will feature experts from Johnson & Johnson, Alnylam, and Frederick National Laboratory (FNL) for Cancer Research. The BIO International Convention is the largest biotech conference in the world, and this year's event will take place from June 3-6 in San Diego, CA.

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The stakes of the discussion are high. Cancer accounts for a $2.5 trillion annual global economic impact, and nearly 2 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the US alone. Despite $90 billion in annual investment in preclinical research and clinical trials, 96% of new cancer therapies fail in clinical trials. And for patients, the cost of treatment is often overwhelming, with 42% wiping out their life savings in just two years after diagnosis.

 

“The old story about a drunk man looking for his wallet under a streetlight – instead of the dimly lit area near the bar where he lost it – mirrors the story of oncology drug discovery today,” said Dr. Budhwani. “We have in front of us a clear choice: we can either harness transformative technologies to shape the future of medicine or we can watch from the sidelines as others seize the opportunity to make a global and generational impact. Our panel discussion is about this choice – about positioning biotech leaders to take maximum advantage of these technologies to crush cancer.”

 

“We must ensure we are utilizing all available tools in our fight against cancer, including the ever-expanding advancements in AI,” said Dr. Maggie Scully, Partnership Development Director at Frederick National Laboratory. “Enabling partnerships and sharing AI resources will ensure rigorous and equitable application in cancer research and care.”

 

The panel discussion will explore how AI can revolutionize cancer drug discovery, the market potential for biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and the challenges that must be overcome to realize these benefits. The audience is expected to gain insights into themes immediately relevant to drug R&D, licensing, clinical trials, and regulatory processes. The discussion will also emphasize new tools and capabilities in personalized precision medicine to reduce the cost and time of bringing blockbuster cancer therapies to market.

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About CerFlux, Inc.

CerFlux, Inc. is a Birmingham (Alabama) based cancer biotech company. CerFlux is creating advanced, personalized medicine solutions, including its patented ChipMux® biopsy-on-a-chip for simultaneously testing multiple anticancer agents directly on standard-of-care tumor biopsy tissue. Our goal is to apply this biopsy-on-a-chip technology across the cancer care continuum; from improving AI in cancer drug response prediction with PROPHET, predicting clinical efficacy for preclinical compounds with PEER® to improving clinical trials with POETRY and identifying the most effective cancer treatments for each patient on an individualized basis with POET®. By building solutions that quickly and clearly separate optimal from ineffective options, we will improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.

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About BIO

BIO is the world’s largest advocacy association representing biotechnology companies, academic and research institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. 

 

Additional Information

To request collateral materials for publication or to schedule interviews with principals from CerFlux, Inc., please contact Dr. M. Grace Albright at mga@CerFlux.com for availability.