Orakl Oncology raises $34M to predict cancer drug success with AI

Orakl Oncology secures $34M to predict cancer drug efficacy

Orakl Oncology has raised $34 million to predict which cancer drugs will work before they ever reach patients. The Paris-based startup closed its Series A round with Norrsken VC and Singular co-leading the investment, bringing its total funding to $50 million since spinning out of Gustave Roussy in 2023.

The company grows miniature versions of patients’ tumors—called organoids—in its lab. Drugs are tested on these organoids, and the results are fed into an AI system trained on thousands of medical records. The goal is simple: tell pharmaceutical companies which experimental drugs are worth the risk of costly clinical trials.

AI accuracy tested and expansion plans underway

Norrsken VC says Orakl’s system is 90% accurate. That claim was put to the test in an April preprint study of 23 past trials for colorectal and pancreatic cancers. The AI’s predictions of how long patients would live without their cancer worsening were off by just 0.82 months on average. In seven out of eight cases, it correctly identified the better treatment.

The fresh funding will allow Orakl to produce five times more lab data. It also plans to expand its research into lung and gastric cancers and open new teams in the US and UK. According to Norrsken, 18 of the world’s 20 largest pharmaceutical companies are already in discussions with the startup.

Competition heats up as pharma interest grows

Orakl is not alone in using AI to speed up drug development. Paris-based Rivercell raised $25 million in October for its organoid technology, while US startup Chai Discovery secured $400 million in July. Singular, one of Orakl’s backers, also led a $20 million round for Paris health startup Lucis earlier this year.

This surge in funding reflects growing investor confidence in AI tools that can cut the cost and time of clinical trials. Orakl’s recent deal with Sanofi—giving it rights to test four of the pharma giant’s cancer drugs—adds to its credibility in the space.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Orakl’s $34 million round signals that investors see AI-driven drug prediction as a way to slash the time and cost of oncology trials—potentially saving billions in failed drug development. If the technology delivers on its accuracy claims, it could change how pharma selects candidates for human testing.

Key takeaways

• Orakl’s Series A is the largest for an AI-focused oncology platform in Europe this year.
• The startup’s 90% accuracy claim and a partnership with Sanofi have already attracted attention from 18 of the top 20 drugmakers.
• Orakl is expanding its research from colorectal and pancreatic cancers to lung and gastric cancers.
• Competitors are gaining traction too: Rivercell raised $25 million, while Chai Discovery secured $400 million.

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