To reinvent cancer care, Color Health is going virtual first, AI-driven

Angus Chen covers all issues broadly related to cancer including drugs, policy, science, and equity. He joined STAT in 2021 after covering health and science at NPR and NPR affiliate stations. His work has been recognized by national Edward R. Murrow awards, the June L. Biedler prize for cancer journalism, and more. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08.

Color Health’s CEO, Othman Laraki, identifies a significant challenge in cancer care: scalability. With each scientific advancement setting new treatment standards, managing cancer’s complexities becomes more demanding. Laraki points out that the number of cancer patients is rising more quickly than the availability of oncologists, and the associated costs are also escalating. This situation complicates the delivery of optimal care for all patients. According to the Silicon Valley leader, a transformative solution is on the horizon.

“In our mind, the only way this is going to be addressed and solved is in a virtual first, AI-driven manner,” Laraki stated. “In the coming years, the biggest cancer centers will be virtual first.”

At first glance, virtual cancer care may seem contradictory, given that traditional cancer treatments are predominantly hands-on, involving surgery, radiation, and infusions. However, Color Health is developing a virtual cancer clinic, which includes a virtual “tumor board” featuring experts from various disciplines. The company claims this setup can maintain high-quality care, a claim now supported by a certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

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