Radiologist-backed software startup Sirona Medical acquiring assets, personnel from AI firm Nines
A San Francisco-based software startup backed by several radiology practices has inked a deal to acquire assets and personnel from artificial intelligence firm Nines, leaders announced Friday.
Sirona Medical said it is obtaining all of Nines’ AI capabilities, including its data pipeline, machine learning engines, analytics tools, and two U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared products. Nines will hold onto its teleradiology service, with the two parties declining to disclose financial terms of the deal.
Key leaders will also join Sirona Medical, including Maureen Bradford, who will serve as its chief revenue officer.
“I’ve been a longtime fan of what Nines has built and we’re excited to add their brilliant minds to the team as we continue to expand on our vision to help radiologists through better software,” Cameron Andrews, founder and CEO of Sirona Medical, said Feb. 18.
Launched in 2018, Sirona exited “stealth mode” last year after collecting $40 million in Series B financing. The company has created a cloud-based radiology operating system it says can unify fragmented IT and simplify physician workflows. Sirona in August also announced partnerships with five practices including California Advanced Imaging Medical Associates, Hackensack Radiology Group and Triad Radiology. Altogether, they handle 8.3 million studies annually across 100 facilities.
Nines, meanwhile, is also based in the Silicon Valley and was founded in 2017. Forbes last year named it one of the most promising new AI companies, with two FDA clearances on its resume. Those include NinesMeasure, a lung nodule algorithm that accelerates the diagnosis of respiratory disease, and NinesAI Emergent Triage, a set of solutions to aid in prioritizing urgent care. Nines also exited stealth mode a few years ago after securing $16.5 million from investors.
Sirona Medical said it plans to integrate Nines’ AI solutions into its RadOS radiology operating system.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.