LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – (July 2, 2025) – The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer, today announced a new data partnership with Acurion, a leader in AI-driven oncology diagnostics company, aimed at transforming how pancreatic cancer is sub-typed for optimal treatment selection. Using data from PanCAN’s SPARK platform and Acurion’s OncoGaze™ technology, the goal is to identify clinically actionable biomarkers that can guide treatment decisions earlier and with greater precision.

Through this collaboration, Acurion will work with a highly curated, de-identified dataset from PanCAN’s SPARK platform, which integrates patient-level information from programs such as its Know Your Tumor® precision medicine service. The dataset includes real-world insights on treatment history, clinical outcomes, and molecular characteristics, providing a valuable first step in accelerating the identification of molecular phenotypes for patients with pancreatic cancer by leveraging AI to analyze pathology images from tumor biopsies.

“Integrating PanCAN’s real-world data with Acurion’s AI platform presents a unique opportunity to accelerate innovation in pancreatic cancer care,” said Sudheer Doss, PhD, PanCAN’s Chief Business Officer. “Together, we are uncovering insights with the goal of more precise diagnoses, better treatment decisions, and ultimately, a future in which all patients with pancreatic cancer will thrive.”

Pancreatic cancer today remains one of the most challenging cancers to prevent, diagnose or treat. Because its risk factors and symptoms remain unfamiliar to most, most people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at a late stage when their tumor is inoperable, leaving these patients with few treatment options.

“The collaboration between Acurion and PanCAN has the potential to improve the precision management of pancreatic cancer,” said Jim Abbruzzese, MD, Professor of Medicine and Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Disease Group at Duke Cancer Institute, and a medical advisor to Acurion. “Employing Acurion’s OncoGaze technology to identify HRD-positive pancreatic cancer at the time of diagnosis is intended to allow the introduction of platinum-based chemotherapy at the earliest possible time point, facilitating patient care.”

Acurion’s OncoGaze™ platform analyzes digital pathology images to identify molecular features such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), a key indicator that can help determine if a patient may benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy or other precision treatments.

“We are thankful to partner with PanCAN to provide hope for pancreatic cancer patients. With our analyses using PanCAN’s extensive datasets, we intend to provide oncologists with the kind of real-time insights that we hope will help improve patient outcomes. This is our shared mission, and I know both organizations are excited to see this solution make a difference for pancreatic cancer patients,” said Rick Fultz, CEO of Acurion.

This initiative exemplifies PanCAN’s bold approach to data-driven innovation and Acurion’s mission to bring advanced AI tools into real-world oncology care. It reflects a shared commitment to speeding up scientific discovery and improving patient outcomes where the need is most urgent.

To learn more about PanCAN and its mission to save lives, visit pancan.org or follow PanCAN on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is the leading organization dedicated to advancing progress against pancreatic cancer. We empower patients and caregivers with the resources and knowledge they need to advocate for the care they deserve; we are pioneering the advancement of an early detection strategy for pancreatic cancer and revolutionizing the development of advanced and personalized treatments; and we are building and mobilizing the pancreatic cancer field to ensure better outcomes for all those who face pancreatic cancer today and all those who will fight this disease tomorrow.

About Acurion
Acurion is a precision oncology company harnessing AI to improve outcomes for people with cancer. Its OncoGaze™ platform analyzes routine pathology slides to uncover molecular biomarkers—such as HRD—that help guide faster, more personalized treatment decisions. With support from leading clinical advisors and research collaborators, Acurion is advancing a new standard in cancer diagnostics—one that brings cutting-edge science closer to real-world care and delivers impact across institutions, patients, and providers. Learn more at www.acurionhealth.com.