#USA #Miami #Precision Medicine #Cancer Care #First Ascent Biomedical

Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment

First Ascent Biomedical, a cutting-edge biotechnology startup, is significantly changing cancer care with its recent launch of a sophisticated functional precision medicine platform. This breakthrough has facilitated an astonishing 83% patient benefit rate, as reported in a recent study published in Nature Medicine. The company is on an exciting trajectory with the introduction of its second laboratory in Miami, Florida on September 1, 2025, which is set to process 15,000 samples annually and cater to 200 cancer patients each year, both adults and children.

Advancements in Personalized oncology

The innovative platform established by First Ascent combines patient-derived testing, genomic profiling, and artificial intelligence to guide oncologists in selecting the most effective therapies for their patients. Jim Foote, the CEO and founder, emphasizes the critical need for better tools and technology in cancer treatment, illuminating his inspiration from personal experience during his child's battle with cancer. His vision aims to enhance the doctor’s ability to provide clinically actionable treatment decisions in a timely manner.

“Cancer care has stagnated for 25 years,” Foote remarked. “The goal is to provide doctors with the tools they need to support their decisions effectively.”

How the Platform Works

The functional precision medicine (FPM) platform harnesses the potential of three core components — patient-derived cell testing, genomic and transcriptomic profiling, and AI — to generate tailored treatment plans. It achieves this by exposing cultured patient tumor cells to a multitude of FDA-approved drugs, generating a drug sensitivity score in just 10 days.

This rapid feedback loop allows oncologists to make well-informed prescribing choices based on current and detailed patient data, drastically improving therapeutic outcomes.

Disrupting Traditional Cancer Treatments

Dr. Diana Azzam, a co-founder and scientific director at Florida International University, elaborates on the importance of personalized care: “Our approach is radically different from the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' method. We can conduct precise tests on living cancer cells, assessing their response to thousands of drugs.” This capability allows for immediate identification of which treatments are likely to succeed and which ones may exacerbate the disease.

With an impressive reported improvement in outcomes surpassing standard care, the platform stands as a promising alternative for patients facing difficult cases of cancer, particularly relapsed or refractory cancers.

The Context of Cancer in America

As the U.S. transitions into September, which marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the significance of this pioneering work cannot be overstated. In 2025, around two million new cancer cases are expected across the country, resulting in approximately 600,000 deaths related to the disease, underscoring the pressing need for effective clinical interventions. While generally, five-year survival rates hover around 70% for various cancers, the occurrence of early-onset cancers, especially among the younger population, remains a growing concern.

First Ascent’s platform not only serves as a clinical decision-support tool but also integrates automations, robotics, and AI solutions to make functional precision medicine both more accessible and affordable.

Future Directions

The newly opened lab is CLIA-certified, enhancing its credibility and enabling it to start accepting patients immediately. The company is also in the process of securing FDA Breakthrough Device Designation to streamline pathways toward commercialization.

Foote states, “We aim not just to improve cancer treatments incrementally — we are fundamentally reshaping the existing paradigms. By providing real-time insights into tumor responses, we effectively minimize uncertainty and transform hope into actionable outcomes."

First Ascent Biomedical continues to push the envelope in precision oncology, heralding an era where patient-specific, data-driven insights take precedence over generalized approaches in cancer treatment, thereby providing a promising future for countless patients battling this formidable disease.

About First Ascent Biomedical

First Ascent Biomedical employs its AI-driven Drug Prediction Platform to revolutionize cancer treatment by utilizing combined DNA/RNA sequencing, mutation analyses, and drug sensitivity testing, leading to the identification of personalized therapies for every type of tumor. For more details, please visit firstascendbiomedical.com.