Columbus’ Paradigm Health redefines cancer research with $78 million raise and major acquisition

Columbus-based Paradigm Health has executed a strategic one-two punch that places Ohio at the center of a shift in global drug development. The company announced an oversubscribed $78 million Series B financing round alongside the acquisition of Flatiron Health’s Clinical Research Business.

By purchasing Flatiron’s research arm and securing a long-term integration with its widely used electronic medical record (EMR) system, Paradigm has effectively created the largest oncology research network in the United States.

The stakes

For decades, clinical trials have suffered from a "zip code problem." Most advanced research occurs at elite academic medical centers in major cities, effectively excluding rural and underserved populations from accessing cutting-edge therapies.

• Why this hurts science: When trial participants don't look like the actual patient population, the resulting data is less generalizable.

• The shift: While "decentralized trials" have long been a goal for the industry, previous efforts were often fragmented. Paradigm’s move creates the first infrastructure large enough to systematically embed research into community care on a national scale.

“Today, most research happens in academic centers because they have the staff and infrastructure to manage it," said Kent Thoelke, Chief Executive Officer of Paradigm Health. "Patients in community and rural settings have limited access to trials, and their experiences remain underrepresented in research. This slows down trials, makes them more expensive, and misses opportunities for innovation."

How it works

The integration aims to change the experience inside the exam room, removing the administrative friction that typically stalls enrollment.

• The Vignette: Imagine a community oncologist in rural Ohio treating a patient. Instead of needing to proactively search for studies or refer the patient to a distant city, the doctor opens the patient’s chart in Flatiron’s OncoEMR and sees an immediate, AI-driven notification.
• The Action: The system flags that the patient is a match for a specific trial. The doctor can discuss enrollment immediately, without navigating external portals or waiting for a research coordinator.
• The Output: This workflow supports "pragmatic trials," generating real-world evidence on how drugs perform for everyday patients, not just those with the means to travel to major research hubs.

The Deal Sheet

• The Money: The $78 million Series B was led by ARCH Venture Partners.
  • New & Returning: New investor DFJ Growth joined the round, alongside existing heavyweights F-Prime, General Catalyst, GV (Google Ventures), Lux Capital, and Mubadala Capital.
  • Strategic Interest: The American Cancer Society’s BrightEdge Fund also participated, signaling industry validation of the patient-access model.
• The Acquisition: Paradigm has acquired Flatiron Health’s Clinical Research Business for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes a multi-year partnership to natively integrate Paradigm’s software into Flatiron’s OncoEMR®, which is used by over 4,500 providers.

By the Numbers

The combination of Paradigm’s technology and Flatiron’s footprint creates massive scale:

• 2.4 Million: The number of patients accessible through the combined network.
• 70%: The estimated percentage of the U.S. cancer population now within reach of a Paradigm trial site.
• 15 of 20: Paradigm reports that it now supports trials for 75% of the top 20 global biopharma companies.
• Post-Market: The company claims the network now has the capacity to run Phase IV trials embedded directly in routine care, accelerating the collection of post-approval data.

What’s next

Paradigm plans to use the fresh capital to digest the Flatiron acquisition and expand its model beyond oncology. The company is eyeing expansion into neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic conditions—therapeutic areas that, like cancer, struggle with equitable trial access.