Tempus AI has agreed to acquire the cancer genomics company Personalis in a deal valued at about $1.5 billion, the companies announced July 20.
The acquisition builds on a partnership the two companies formed in November 2023, when Tempus invested in Personalis and began commercializing its NeXT Personal test. The test looks for trace amounts of cancer DNA in a patient’s blood, called minimal residual disease, to catch a relapse before it shows up on a scan. Insurance coverage for the test has been expanding, with Medicare currently covering three of Personalis’ test indications.
Tempus plans to combine the MRD technology with its existing AI-driven precision oncology platform.
“MRD is a large and rapidly growing market with the potential to truly transform how cancer patients are monitored, helping clinicians make faster and more informed decisions when cancer recurs,” Eric Lefkofsky, CEO of Tempus, said in a news release.
The deal, approved by both companies’ boards, is expected to close in late 2026 or early 2027, pending Personalis shareholder approval and regulatory clearance.
Personalis reported preliminary second-quarter revenue of $22.4 million and delivered 10,384 clinical tests during the quarter, a 33% increase in volume from the prior quarter.Tempus estimates the MRD market opportunity at $20 billion.
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