Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) and Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM) announced a strategic collaboration today aimed at accelerating the clinical adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests through novel evidence generation. The partnership will leverage Tempus's comprehensive multimodal data platform to enhance Illumina's AI-driven molecular analysis technologies, with the ultimate goal of making precision medicine more accessible to patients across all disease categories.
The collaboration, announced on April 15, 2025, addresses a critical gap in healthcare: despite advances in genomic medicine, molecular profiling is not yet standard practice across all disease areas and regions, causing many patients to miss out on the benefits of precision medicine.
"In the era of true precision medicine, every patient who is battling complex disease should be routed to the optimal therapy based on molecular insights," said Everett Cunningham, chief commercial officer of Illumina. "We envision a world where the full range of molecular profiling is available as part of the standard of care—not just in cancer, but in cardiology, neurology, immunology, and every other category of disease."
Expanding the Reach of Precision Medicine
The partnership will focus on generating new insights that support the clinical value of sequencing, which will then be used to build evidence packages needed to standardize the use of comprehensive genomic profiling across major diseases. This approach aims to transform how molecular testing is integrated into routine clinical care.
Terron Bruner, chief commercial officer of Tempus, emphasized the complementary strengths of the two companies: "By expanding our collaboration with Illumina, we are combining our strengths in technology and data analytics with their strengths in developing new sequencing technologies to drive forward innovation and advance precision medicine."
Building on Established Foundations
This new initiative builds on a long-standing collaboration between the companies, which has previously focused on developing tools and assays to address gaps in testing needs. Their joint efforts have spanned the continuum from preemptive screening through therapy selection, health economics, and bioinformatics pipelines to improve patient outcomes and research.
The collaboration represents a significant step toward democratizing access to molecular insights across healthcare. By combining Illumina's expertise in genomic sequencing technology with Tempus's AI capabilities and vast multimodal data resources, the companies aim to accelerate the development of evidence-based approaches that demonstrate the clinical utility of comprehensive molecular profiling.
AI-Driven Approach to Clinical Evidence
A key aspect of the partnership involves using artificial intelligence to analyze and interpret genomic data more effectively. The companies will train genomic algorithms using Tempus's data platform, which contains one of the world's largest libraries of multimodal healthcare data.
This AI-driven approach is expected to yield more robust evidence packages that can help convince healthcare providers, payers, and regulatory bodies of the value of incorporating molecular testing into standard clinical practice across multiple therapeutic areas.
Implications for Healthcare
The standardization of molecular profiling across disease categories could significantly impact how diseases are diagnosed and treated. For patients, this could mean more personalized treatment approaches based on their unique molecular profiles, potentially leading to better outcomes and fewer adverse effects.
For healthcare systems, the evidence generated through this collaboration could help establish clearer guidelines for when and how to use molecular testing, potentially streamlining care pathways and improving resource allocation.
The partnership between Illumina and Tempus represents a significant step toward realizing the full potential of precision medicine, moving beyond the current focus on oncology to address the molecular underpinnings of diseases across the healthcare spectrum.
