Mayo Clinic AI Detects Pancreatic Cancer Up to Three Years Early; FDA Transforms Drug Approval with Real-Time AI Oversight; Lilly Partners with Profluent on Generative AI for Gene Editing; Utah Physicians Call for Halt to AI Prescription Pilot

Mayo Clinic's Artificial Intelligence Can Detect Pancreatic Cancer Three Years in Advance

An artificial intelligence (AI) model developed by the Mayo Clinic can detect signs of pancreatic cancer in routine abdominal CT scans up to three years before clinical diagnosis, with the full study published in Gut. The system, called REDMOD, analyzed nearly 2,000 CT scans—including those of patients who were later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but initially read as normal—and identified 73% of pre-diagnosis cases approximately 16 months before diagnosis. In scans taken more than two years before diagnosis, the AI identified nearly three times the number of early cancers that would have otherwise gone undetected. Targeting asymptomatic high-risk populations, this technology aims to overcome the challenges of early pancreatic cancer diagnosis, with the new approach expected to shift the screening paradigm from symptom-driven to risk-prediction-driven.

Lilly's Major AI Pharmaceutical Collaboration: Initiating AI Gene Editing

Recently, Profluent, an AI pharmaceutical company, announced a multi-project strategic partnership with Eli Lilly to develop AI-designed DNA editing tools. Profluent, established in 2022 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, is an AI biotechnology company. In April 2024, Profluent unveiled its breakthrough achievement — OpenCRISPR-1. The company stated that OpenCRISPR-1 is the world's first gene editor based on generative AI. Profluent will utilize its AI models to design site-specific recombinases for multiple genomic targets, capable of cutting and reconnecting DNA. Eli Lilly will then have the opportunity to exclusively license and advance selected assets through preclinical and clinical development, up to commercialization.

Major Changes in FDA Drug Approval: AI Real-Time Monitoring of Clinical Trials

On April 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the advancement of the Real-Time Clinical Trials (RTCT) initiative, which is set to launch this summer. The first proof-of-concept will be implemented at AstraZeneca and Amgen. This Real-Time Clinical Trials (RTCT) program aims to enable the FDA to view safety signals and clinical endpoints in real time on the cloud through artificial intelligence and data science technologies, eliminating the need to wait for data collection, analysis, and submission.

FDA Confirms Feasibility of Real-Time Signal Sharing Framework After Receiving and Validating Signals from AstraZeneca Trials via Paradigm Health's AI Platform. Paradigm Health, founded in 2019, focuses on revolutionizing the clinical research ecosystem through an AI-driven platform and has already supported 15 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies.

American Hospital Association (AHA) and West Health Jointly Launch $12 Million Hospital Technology Accelerator Program

The American Hospital Association (AHA) and West Health Institute are jointly launching a three-year initiative aimed at helping hospitals promote technology-driven solutions to improve healthcare services.

The program, funded with a $12 million grant from West Health, will focus on expanding the use of proven technologies. It will prioritize electronic health record optimization, virtual care, and artificial intelligence integration. Participating organizations will gain access to a digital platform offering vetted, ready-to-deploy solutions, as well as receive implementation support and guidance from experts at both institutions. The initiative also includes peer learning opportunities and a network of hospitals that will serve as exemplars by sharing their experiences in adopting and scaling technology-enabled care models.

Utah Doctors Call for Halt to AI Prescription Pilot Program

Doctors in Utah are raising concerns about an AI-based prescription renewal system, arguing that it jeopardizes patient safety. In January this year, the state signed a cooperation agreement with Doctronic, an AI doctor startup, to test an AI system aimed at automating "guideline-based routine prescription renewals" for Utah residents. Instead of waiting days or weeks to schedule a doctor's appointment to renew regular medications, Utah residents can simply communicate online with an AI agent to complete prescription renewals almost instantly.

The Utah Medical Licensing Board wrote in a letter to the Utah Department of Commerce that it was not informed about the matter until after the agreement had been implemented, meaning the system was already online and available for use. "For critical safety and clinical reasons, the supervision of prescription refills is a task reserved for properly licensed medical practitioners. Each refill requires reassessment and clinical decision-making to safely adjust dosages, monitor side effects, contraindications, or new drug interactions, and ensure continued efficacy of the medication. Patients who receive ongoing refills without evaluation may remain on outdated or suboptimal treatment regimens for months or even years." The letter pointed out that moving forward with this AI-driven pilot project without consulting the medical board "could potentially put Utah citizens at risk and remains a primary concern for the board."

American Medical Association Urges Congress to Enact Stronger Safeguards for AI Chatbots

Recently, the American Medical Association (AMA) urged federal lawmakers to strengthen safety measures for artificial intelligence chatbots, as the use of such tools in the mental health field is increasing. The organization sent a letter to the co-chairs of the Congressional AI Caucus, the Congressional Digital Health Caucus, and the Senate AI Caucus. While the AMA acknowledges the efforts of lawmakers in "promoting dialogue about the role of AI in society and mental health," it stated that the rise of mental health chatbots, including numerous reports of encouraging self-harm and privacy breaches, "highlights the urgent need for clear safety safeguards."

The safety measures recommended by the American Medical Association include: enforcing transparency standards and penalizing deceptive practices, including systems masquerading as licensed clinicians; establishing a modernized, risk-based regulatory framework with clear definitions of when AI tools are categorized as medical devices; mandating ongoing safety monitoring and adverse event reporting systems; and requiring stringent data protection standards.