French startup Gleamer, known for its AI-powered tools to enhance X-rays and mammographies, has set its sights on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the acquisition of two startups, Pixyl and Caerus Medical. This strategic move marks Gleamer's entry into the MRI analysis space, building upon its existing expertise in medical imaging.

Gleamer's acquisition of Pixyl and Caerus Medical is a significant development in the medical imaging industry, which has seen a surge in startups leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnostic accuracy. The company's decision to acquire existing startups rather than starting from scratch is a testament to its commitment to accelerating innovation in this space.

Gleamer's journey began in 2017, when it started building an AI assistant for radiologists, designed to improve diagnostic accuracy when interpreting medical images. The startup has since made significant strides, persuading 2,000 institutions across 45 countries to adopt its software solution, which has processed 35 million examinations. Gleamer has also received CE and FDA certifications for its bone trauma interpretation product, with additional products focused on chest X-rays, orthopedic, and bone age measurements available in Europe.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Gleamer co-founder and CEO Christian Allouche emphasized the complexity of creating a one-size-fits-all approach to radiology, citing the need for specialized teams focused on specific areas, such as mammographies and CT scans. The company's recent release of its mammography product, which has been in development for 18 months, is based on a proprietary AI model trained on 1.5 million mammographies.

However, MRI analysis poses unique challenges, requiring a distinct approach. As Allouche explained, "MRI is a different technological space... You have a lot of tasks in MRI. It's not just detection, you've got segmentation, you've got detection, you've got characterization, classification, multi-sequence imaging." To tackle these complexities, Gleamer is leveraging the expertise of Pixyl and Caerus Medical, which will become its two MRI platforms, aiming to cover all use cases within the next two to three years.

While Gleamer's models have shown promising results, they are not yet perfect. For instance, the company's mammography model can detect four out of five cancers, compared to a human radiologist's ability to identify cancer in three out of five cases. Nevertheless, the productivity gains from AI-powered tools like Gleamer could revolutionize medical imaging, enabling earlier detection and prevention of diseases.

In the future, Gleamer envisions a shift toward preventive medical imaging, where AI tools will become indispensable. As Allouche noted, "In the not-too-distant future, I think we'll all be getting routine whole body MRIs paid for by our insurance companies — since they're not irradiating." With the current shortage of radiologists in some cities, AI could become an "orchestrating and triaging" tool, automating medical imaging examinations to rule out diagnoses and enable more accurate and efficient care.

Gleamer's acquisition of Pixyl and Caerus Medical marks a significant milestone in the company's journey to enhance medical imaging with AI-powered tools. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Gleamer's expanded capabilities shape the future of medical imaging and diagnostics.