• AstraZeneca and Qure.ai have conducted over 5 million AI-powered chest X-rays across 20+ countries to improve early lung cancer detection.
  • The initiative identified nearly 50,000 individuals with high-risk lung nodules, enabling timely referrals for further diagnostic tests.
  • Qure.ai’s qXR tool, deployed since 2020, has shown over 54% effectiveness in detecting high-risk nodules, with proven cost benefits.

AstraZeneca, in partnership with healthtech company Qure.ai, announced the completion of over five million artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled chest X-rays (CXRs) across more than 20 countries spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

The initiative, which began in 2020 under AstraZeneca’s A.Catalyst Network, is aimed at enhancing early detection of lung cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to diagnostic tools remains limited.

According to AstraZeneca, the screenings led to the identification of approximately 50,000 individuals with high-risk lung nodules, prompting their referral for additional testing and potential diagnosis.

This large-scale deployment of Qure.ai’s AI-based tool, qXR, is intended to serve as an efficient and cost-effective triaging solution in regions with limited access to advanced imaging technologies.

“Our collaboration with Qure.ai has validated the power of AI-enabled chest X-rays as a cost-effective triaging tool for early lung cancer detection,” said Ti Hwei How, vice president of International Oncology at AstraZeneca.

Qure.ai’s qXR technology is designed to analyse standard chest X-rays and flag suspected abnormalities, facilitating timely follow-up procedures such as low-dose CT scans. The technology has already been rolled out in countries including India, Colombia, and El Salvador, where its impact is being closely monitored.

“Five million scans globally is a significant achievement, demonstrating the scalability and effectiveness of AI in improving lung cancer screening in resource-limited settings,” said Prashant Warier, CEO and Founder of Qure.ai.

Recent findings presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2025 support the efficacy of the qXR tool. Data shows that the AI system was able to identify high-risk lung nodules in 54.1% of cases, with additional evidence highlighting its cost-effectiveness in countries such as Vietnam.

The initiative also aligns with the EDISON Alliance’s 1 Billion Lives Challenge, which seeks to extend digital access to healthcare,, education, and financial services to one billion people worldwide by 2030.

Experts suggest that AI-powered diagnostics like qXR can play a crucial role in mitigating the growing lung cancer burden in LMICs, where mortality rates continue to rise, unlike in high-income countries, where such rates are declining.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah