Tempus Introduces Loop, an AI-Driven Platform for Target Discovery and Validation
Tempus AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEM) announced the launch of Tempus Loop, a proprietary oncology-focused platform designed to streamline target discovery and validation by integrating real-world patient data (RWD), human-derived biological models, and high-throughput CRISPR-based functional screens.
The platform aims to address persistent challenges in translating preclinical findings into successful patient treatments, an area where the industry still sees a 90% failure rate.
Loop’s approach begins by analyzing Tempus’ multimodal RWD to identify patient subpopulations exhibiting similar clinical, molecular, and pathological patterns.
Using systems biology and AI modeling, Tempus generates target hypotheses, which are then mapped onto patient-derived organoids (PDOs)—models Tempus has been cultivating for years. These organoids are functionally screened using CRISPR technologies to validate novel targets in disease-relevant settings, allegedly offering an advantage over traditional cell line or animal model-based validation.
Source: Tempus
The process begins with selecting a cancer type (e.g., NSCLC) and analyzing multimodal RWD to identify patient clusters with distinct molecular profiles. AI systems biology approaches are used to generate candidate gene and pathway lists. These targets are then mapped onto matching PDO models, where high-throughput CRISPR knockdown screens are performed to assess biological relevance. Findings are cross-referenced back to RWD to refine the final target list.
Tempus reports that it has already deployed the Loop platform in collaboration with a major pharmaceutical partner, successfully identifying and validating prioritized drug targets for underserved patient populations within a year—accelerating timelines compared to standard discovery practices.
“With Loop, we have integrated vast multimodal patient data, including outcome data, with more relevant human biological models and high-throughput functional screens, all wrapped with AI tooling”, said Kate Sasser, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Tempus. “This platform is helping to speed up the timelines for our drug discovery customers, while increasing confidence in the clinical relevance of the identified targets”.
On April 18, 2025, Tempus announced the formation of the Tempus Advisory Board, comprising oncology and precision medicine specialists from institutions such as Ohio State University, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Pennsylvania. The board will advise the company on research, product development, and clinical utility across its AI-driven programs.
More recently, on April 23, 2025, Tempus disclosed a new collaboration with AstraZeneca and Pathos AI to develop what is expected to be the largest multimodal foundation model in oncology. The partners will train the model on Tempus’ de-identified oncology datasets, supporting research in biological insight generation, target discovery, and therapeutic development. The agreements include $200 million in combined fees for data licensing and model building.
Topics: AI & Digital
