Technology, private equity, and strategic medtech partnerships are reshaping lung cancer care, bringing new innovations to the forefront of early detection and treatment.

Lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer worldwide, yet early detection rates continue to lag. While screening and diagnostic advancements hold promise, the complexity of care pathways and industry fragmentation have hindered progress. The panel discussion at LSI USA ’24—Lung Cancer at a Tipping Point: Innovation, Private Equity, and Strategic Partnerships Driving Industry Expansion—brought together leading voices in medtech to discuss how we can drive meaningful change in lung cancer care.

The Lung Cancer Care Landscape: A Critical Need for Innovation

“Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer, and unfortunately, it’s an incredibly aggressive disease,” said David Beylik, Partner at Ajax Health. “The only way to impact care is to catch it early.”

Despite the well-documented benefits of early detection, lung cancer screening rates remain alarmingly low. “Less than 7% of eligible patients receive low-dose CT screening each year, even though it’s reimbursed,” Beylik pointed out. In contrast, breast cancer screening compliance sits at 70%. This massive disparity represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

Why Now? The Case for Investment and Innovation in Lung Cancer Care

The panelists agreed that lung cancer care is at an inflection point, driven by three converging factors.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time,” said Justin Montellese, Senior Director of Corporate Business Development at Hologic. “We see parallels between lung cancer and our work in breast health, where we’ve built an entire portfolio across screening, diagnostics, and treatment. There’s an opportunity to apply that same level of focus to lung cancer and make a real impact.”

Montellese emphasized that addressing the unmet needs in lung cancer care requires a dedicated approach. “Lung cancer is a fragmented space with no one player taking on the full continuum of care. That’s why we’re investing in Mavericks Medical alongside Ajax Health and KKR—to build something that spans from screening through treatment.”

Bridging the Gap: Improving Lung Cancer Screening & Diagnosis

Even with promising advancements, there’s still a critical issue: getting more people screened. Diego Serrano, previous Investment Principal at Akilia Partners, laid out the stark reality: “There are approximately 15 million people in the United States considered high-risk for lung cancer. Yet only about 1 million are getting screened.”

So, how do we bridge this gap?

1. Public Awareness & De-stigmatization: “Lung cancer is still viewed as a smoker’s disease, but that’s simply not true,” Montellese noted. “20% of men and 50% of women diagnosed with lung cancer are non-smokers. We need to change the narrative.”
2. Policy & Reimbursement: Insurance providers and healthcare policymakers must incentivize screening. “Payors need to be held accountable,” Montellese said. “Whether it’s a penalty for low screening rates or financial incentives for getting patients screened, we need to push for change.”
3. Building Trust in Primary Care: Many patients rely on primary care providers (PCPs) for medical guidance, yet lung cancer screening is often overlooked. “PCPs need confidence that there’s a clear pathway for patients after screening,” said Joanna Nathan, CEO of Prana Thoracic. “Right now, they may hesitate because they’re unsure of the next steps.”

Opportunities for Innovation in Lung Cancer Care

While screening is the first step, advancements in diagnostics and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes. The panelists highlighted key areas for innovation:

Liquid Biopsy & AI-Driven Diagnostics: “We’re developing a multiomics blood test that can help classify patients into high or low risk, guiding physicians on whether to move forward with intervention,” Beylik said. Mavericks Medical is betting on liquid biopsy as a game-changer in lung cancer detection.
New Biopsy & Interventional Tools: Improving biopsy accuracy and accessibility is another critical focus. “Interventional pulmonologists need better tools to reach nodules in hard-to-access areas of the lung,” Beylik explained. “We’re working on biopsy technology that offers greater precision and safety.”
Redefining Surgical Intervention: Currently, a lobectomy—removing 25-30% of a patient’s lung function—is the standard of care for early-stage lung cancer, regardless of tumor size. Prana Thoracic is working on alternatives. “We’re focused on right-sizing intervention,” Nathan shared. “Just because we’ve been doing lobectomies for decades doesn’t mean it’s the best option. We need to explore minimally invasive surgical techniques.”

The Future of Lung Cancer Care: A Unified Approach

With lung cancer care spanning multiple specialties—interventional pulmonologists, interventional radiologists, and thoracic surgeons—navigating commercialization and adoption remains a challenge.

“The industry is fragmented, and the referral pathways are inconsistent,” Nathan pointed out. “A community hospital may handle lung cancer care entirely differently than a large academic medical center. We need to account for both settings when bringing new technology to market.”

The collaboration between Hologic, Ajax Health, and KKR through Mavericks Medical represents a step toward unifying this space. “We’re building the first dedicated company focused on improving lung cancer outcomes,” Montellese emphasized. “Our goal is to develop and commercialize solutions that make a tangible impact across the full continuum of care.”

Final Thoughts: Driving Progress in Lung Cancer Care

The lung cancer space is finally seeing the kind of investment and innovation it desperately needs. However, progress depends on collaboration across the ecosystem.

As lung cancer screening rates rise, the demand for new diagnostics, interventions, and treatments will only grow. The opportunity is clear: by tackling lung cancer with the same urgency and strategic coordination as other major cancers, we can change the trajectory of this disease and save countless lives.

Want to hear more insights like this? Join us for our next medical technology conference from March 17th-21st in Dana Point, CA.