Dandelion Health Launches AI Marketplace to Speed Up Clinical Trials with Real-World Data

Dandelion Health, a health tech startup, has launched a clinical AI marketplace that combines third-party algorithms with its proprietary data platform and model validation capabilities. The marketplace is designed to support clinical trials by integrating real-world data and validated AI tools to streamline the drug development process.

The company’s core focus is on validating AI and machine learning models using high-quality data to push the application of AI in healthcare. As part of a proof-of-concept study, Dandelion evaluated GLP-1 receptor agonists’ effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular disease risk in a previously unstudied population. The results aligned with Novo Nordisk’s clinical findings.

Dandelion’s marketplace offers a range of validated algorithms from various developers, allowing drug companies to run studies more rapidly than traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A recent study involving 4 million patients was completed in six weeks—far quicker than typical timelines for RCTs.

Elliott Green, Co-founder and CEO of Dandelion Health, explained that they worked with a German partner, Pheiron, to compare their algorithm’s performance against a clinical trial using Dandelion’s data. This demonstrated how AI could significantly impact clinical research.

The company has also launched a GLP-1 data library, collecting real-world clinical data from over 10 million patients through partnerships with Sharp HealthCare, Sanford Health, and Texas Health Resources. Green noted that their team spent several years developing the infrastructure to extract and organize complex data, such as raw waveforms and ECGs, which form the foundation for their AI-driven studies.

For biopharma companies, this marketplace enables rapid exploration of new drug applications. AI models, for instance, can predict whether a heart failure drug might also impact hypertension, using existing patient data and third-party algorithms. While AI studies cannot yet be used for FDA approval, they offer a complement to traditional RCTs by potentially reducing time and costs.

Green stated that AI is one of the most effective ways to shorten and reduce the cost of clinical trials, offering life sciences companies a practical solution to a historically lengthy and expensive process. By validating AI models, Dandelion aims to make them more trustworthy and usable in both clinical trials and healthcare delivery, potentially paving the way for future regulatory approval.

Photo credit: ihsanyildizli, iStock

Topics: HealthTech