Luminous Ventures throws £1m into Optellum’s AI‑powered lung‑cancer wizardry
In a twist that could change the game for millions, London‑based Luminous Ventures has dropped a hefty £1 m into Optellum, the creators of the world’s first AI clinical diagnosis support software. This software promises to spot and tailor early lung‑cancer treatment faster than a doctor can say “CT scan.”
Early‑stage detection = higher survival
When the AI is fed a standard CT scan, it flags suspicious spots with precision, allowing doctors to act before the disease blossoms into a later‑stage monster. If tackled at Stage 1A, 85 % of patients seem poised to live beyond five years—a stark contrast to the current only 15 % surviving beyond five years when diagnosed late.
The double‑whammy: fewer false positives and less unnecessary hassle
- Spot checks become smarter – the software tells you which tiny lung spots are a red flag versus harmless “snow bumps.”
- Fewer invasive procedures — patients skip needless biopsies, surgeries, and the endless wait‑and‑see cycle that costs time, money, and nerves.
Voices from the front lines
CEO, Optellum – “Reading the future of lung‑cancer care”
Vaclav Potesil, co‑Founder and CEO at Optellum, puts it bluntly: “Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest cancer worldwide. The sad truth? Only 15 % of patients live beyond five years when their disease is discovered late.” He continues, “There are roughly 10 million people worldwide with suspicious lung spots on their scans—often caught honestly in a CT scan for something else. Those are the treasures we’re hunting.”
Vaclav points out the pain: “Doctors can’t always tell a spot from a true tumor right away. Patients end up in a two‑year diagnostic limbo, often getting endless scans, painful biopsies, and sometimes even lungs removed when they’re actually healthy. And yes, some people slip through the cracks entirely, only to be diagnosed at a terminal stage.”
Chief Science & Technology Officer – “Our AI is a game‑changer”
Dr. Timor Kadir confirms the tech edge: “We use advanced machine‑learning to rethink lung‑cancer care. The algorithms were validated against the biggest real‑world dataset—CT scans, patient records, and tissue samples from dozens of hospitals in the US and Europe.” He adds, “This is the first predictive AI solution for lung cancer, currently phase‑in a forward‑looking multicentre trial spearheaded by the authors of the UK lung‑cancer guidelines.”
Timor’s dream? “To walk you through every step of the patient journey, speed up decision‑making, and expand to other lung disorders—COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension.”
Funding slice & why Luminous staked in it
Optellum now sits in a £3.25 m seed follow‑on round that also includes IQ Capital, St. John’s College, Oxford and the family office of Sir Martin & Lady Audrey Wood (the MRI pioneers behind Oxford Instruments Plc). The coffee‑chat with Luminous’s co‑founder, Lomax Ward, painted the picture: “We back tech that genuinely matters. Optellum feels like the best chance to tighten up lung‑cancer treatment and save lives. It’s a thrill to add them to our growing roster of trailblazers.”
Bottom line: faster, smarter, kinder care for lung patients
In a nutshell, Optellum’s AI doesn’t just stir up images; it reshapes how doctors spot, diagnose, and treat a disease that has long outpaced our tools. With Luminous backing, the next chapter of lung‑cancer care is already on its way.
