Detecting cancer early is critical to beating the disease. But many people don't catch their cancer until it's already progressed, significantly reducing their potential for remission.
Ezra, a New York-based company, has developed a full-body MRI scanner that can scan up to 13 organs in the human body for potential signs of cancer and monitor hundreds of other conditions such as brain aneurysms or fatty liver disease. This is a game changer for a disease that claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year.
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What's Next For Ezra?
The company recently received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new level of artificial intelligence (AI) called Ezra Flash, which is designed to improve the quality of scan results while reducing costs. This enhancement will shorten the current 60-minute, $1,950 scan to a 30-minute, $1,350 scan. The company’s goal is to create a $500 full-body MRI accessible to anyone.
Ezra's machines are currently in use in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City and San Francisco. Scans are performed at existing American College of Radiology (ACR)-accredited facilities in these cities, with hopes of expanding in the near future.
Where Does AI Come Into Play?
The current version of Ezra uses two types of artificial intelligence. It starts by automating some of the tasks that radiologists currently do when reading scans.
“For example, when a radiologist looks at a prostate MRI, they need to measure the size of the prostate and the size of any lesions, and they need to draw a circle around the lesions for biopsy prep,” Ezra CEO Emi Gal said.
AI is also used on the reporting side, with Gal adding:
"For example, if you have a 6-millimeter nodule in your thyroid, the AI explains what that means, what you should do about it and how to monitor and follow up."
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Who Is Ezra CEO Emi Gal?
Ezra’s was inspired by Founder and CEO Emi Gal’s personal motivations for early cancer detection.
Gal, who is at high risk for developing melanoma and lost his mother to the disease, believes that the cure for cancer lies in early detection. He argues that while screening procedures exist for some types of cancer, many forms of the disease, such as pancreatic, liver or brain cancer, usually get diagnosed only after symptoms appear.
“I strongly believe that the cure for cancer is early detection,” Gal said in a recent interview. “The five-year survival rates are significantly higher for people who find cancer early.”
Gal emphasizes that Ezra’s mission is to detect cancer as early as possible. It’s important to note that Ezra is not a substitute for standard medical procedures but instead serves as an additional tool to enhance early detection and potentially improve survival rates.
“We’ve scanned just under 5,000 people, and we’ve helped 13% of our members find possible cancer,” Gal said.
If Ezra has its way, this number will continue to grow in the years to come.
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