A Slovenian-US biotech company, Genialis, is harnessing AI to revolutionise cancer treatment by tackling a major obstacle: the lack of reliable biomarkers to predict how patients will respond to therapy. Using an AI-driven model developed from over a million global samples, the company aims to personalise treatment with far greater accuracy.

Founded nine years ago as a spin-off from the University of Ljubljana, Genialis is now headquartered in Boston but maintains strong ties to Slovenia, employing 22 local experts. Initially focused on tools for biologists, the firm shifted towards personalised medicine six years ago, now offering diagnostic insights that predict whether a patient is likely to respond to a specific cancer drug or treatment.

Genialis' proprietary "Supermodel" analyses RNA data from a diverse range of patients using machine learning, boosting the likelihood of treatment success from 20-30% to as high as 65% when paired with their biomarkers. While the software is already used in research settings, the ultimate goal is to integrate it into routine clinical care. Despite the promise, challenges remain, including securing quality data and investment. Co-founders Rafael Rosengarten and Miha ?tajdohar remain optimistic, believing AI-powered precision medicine is the future of effective cancer therapy.