Logo

Canadian Government-Sponsored Collaboration Targets Standardized Cancer Testing

Share this
Canadian Government-Sponsored Collaboration Targets Standardized Cancer Testing

M&A

Canadian Government-Sponsored Collaboration Targets Standardized Cancer Testing

  [caption id="attachment_9277" align="aligncenter" width="747"]Press Release Press Release[/caption] Genome?Canada, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and Thermo Fisher Scientific to focus on pancreatic, prostate and breast cancer CARLSBAD, Calif.,?July 30, 2019?/PRNewswire/ -- Genome?Canada, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and Thermo Fisher Scientific are collaborating to develop a complete solution of targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) assays and analysis software designed to more effectively assess ? and eventually improve management of ? pancreatic, prostate and breast cancer. The?$6 million, three-year initiative aims to standardize advanced molecular profiling in these disease areas and make the assays commercially available globally. Focusing on rapid genomic diagnostics in pancreatic cancer and targeting treatment in breast and prostate cancers, the partnership builds on previous clinical research between OICR and Thermo Fisher and will inform development of three assays that will be utilized to stratify patients in clinical trials in?Ontario?and other jurisdictions. "By supporting research and clinical trials, Genome Canada is helping to put more of?Ontario's?innovative cancer diagnostics research into clinical use," said Dr.?John Bartlett, program director, diagnostic development at OICR. "This project has the potential to springboard advanced next-generation sequencing to routine clinical use in?Ontario?and across?Canada." Breast and prostate cancer are among the most common types of cancer in?Canada, and the country's five-year net survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 8 percent. However, there is clear evidence that patient outcomes can be improved with NGS-based testing strategies. A recent U.S. health economics study has shown that advanced cancer patients who received treatment based on NGS testing results experienced double the length of progression-free survival without increasing health care costs.1 While some solutions analyze only DNA sequences, the new targeted NGS assays will provide comprehensive genomic profiles by simultaneously assessing DNA and expression signatures from RNA to provide significantly more insight into driver mutations. The OICR/Thermo Fisher team will leverage this advantage by supplementing the new assays with unique DNA/RNA stratification biomarkers ? specific to pancreatic, prostate and breast cancer ? previously qualified by OICR translational researchers. The collaboration is partly funded with a grant from Genome Canada through the Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP). Genome?Canada?will contribute?$2 million, the highest possible level of funding support, with the balance split between OICR and Thermo Fisher, which will cover development costs and validation activities. Previous research collaborations led by OICR and Thermo Fisher are already well on their way to impacting cancer treatment in the future. Of particular note is a 2016 study designed to identify mutations and copy number variation changes in breast cancer, and clinical research utilizing the Oncomine Comprehensive Assay, which also supports both the National Cancer Institute's Adult and Pediatric MATCH trials in?the United States. "OICR is a leader in clinical research, with extensive clinical trials in progress to improve care for patients with pancreatic, prostate and breast cancer," said?Jeff Smith, global lead of NGS precision medicine initiatives, clinical NGS and oncology for Thermo Fisher Scientific. "When OICR approached our team with the idea for this project, we saw it as another exciting for opportunity to bring Thermo Fisher's proven Ion Torrent technology to clinical laboratories across?Canada?and to contribute to future improvement of patient care."

1?"A Retrospective Analysis of Precision Medicine Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Cancer Reveals Improved Progression- Free Survival Without Increased Health Care Costs," Journal of Oncology Practice, Vol 13, Issue 2, February 2017

About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of?more than?$24?billion?and approximately 70,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics, deliver medicines to market and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands ? Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services ? we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit?www.thermofisher.com.   Media Contacts: Christopher Needles Senior Manager, Communications Ontario Institute for Cancer Research +1 416-673-8505 christopher.needles@oicr.on.ca @OICR_news Mauricio Minotta Director, Public Relations Thermo Fisher Scientific +1 760-929-2456 Mauricio.minotta@thermofisher.com Jen Heady Greenough Brand Storytellers +1 617-275-6547 jheady@greenough.biz SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific If you have any questions regarding this Press Release, please email us at?media.relations@thermofisher.com.

Share this article on WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Twitter



Join the PharmaShots family of 12000+ subscribers

I accept the Terms and Conditions