Elaitra

The challenge: There are two major but obscure challenges in detecting breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The first is the difficult task of matching tissue between 3D X-ray images (known as tomosynthesis or tomo) taken from different angles. A correct match allows radiologists to confirm or ally suspicions. The second is that two thirds of breast cancers are only detected when symptoms appear, largely because many women still don’t get screened, despite campaigns and other measures.

The breakthrough: Elaitra is using AI to solve the first problem by dynamically matching tissue between views, making radiologists more accurate and efficient. The AI also facilitates tomo’s adoption, unlocking its superior performance and finding up to 65% more invasive cancers. It already has regulatory approval, likely reimbursement in the US and clinical usage. To solve the second problem, Elaitra is developing a different, conversational AI (GPT-4o) for hospital use, which encourages screening attendance and takes on other hospital tasks.

Our role: Cancer Research Horizons invested in Elaitra’s seed round in 2023.