The deal includes a personalized platform for detecting signs of cancer recurrence using sequencing and digital polymerase chain reaction.
Foundation Medicine, a precision medicine company and affiliate of Roche, is set to expand its monitoring portfolio through the acquisition of SAGA Diagnostics’ molecular residual disease (MRD) platform, Pathlight. The expansion follows Roche’s entry into a definitive merger agreement to acquire SAGA for up to $595 million, including commercial and regulatory milestone payments.
The transaction is expected to close by the third quarter of 2026. Following the closing, the platform will be fully integrated into Foundation Medicine to support treatment selection and the monitoring of both treatment response and disease recurrence.
Technical Capabilities of the Pathlight Platform
Pathlight utilizes a proprietary combination of whole genome sequencing (WGS) and digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and track large-scale genomic changes known as structural variants (SVs). By optimizing for SVs, the platform enables ultra-sensitive MRD detection.
The platform is currently available for patients within the US and is covered by Medicare for cancer recurrence monitoring in all subtypes of early-stage breast cancer. Foundation Medicine also notes that the technology has demonstrated clinical performance in colorectal cancer.
“Pathlight strengthens our comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic solutions and reinforces our commitment to transforming cancer care throughout a patient’s experience,” says Dan Malarek, chief executive officer of Foundation Medicine, in a release. “MRD is one of the fastest-growing areas within diagnostics, and this technology provides us with a clinically available ultra-sensitive offering.”
Decentralized Testing and Global Access
Foundation Medicine plans to leverage Roche’s AXELIOS sequencing platform and the Digital LightCycler PCR platform to develop a decentralized MRD solution. This initiative is intended to enable patient access in healthcare settings worldwide.
“Our mission at SAGA is to intercept cancer early when patients are most treatable and curable,” says Roopom Banerjee, executive chairman of SAGA, in a release. “Foundation Medicine’s commercial scale and innovation accelerates our ability to bring this unique MRD platform to more patients worldwide.”
The addition of Pathlight expands a precision medicine portfolio that includes FoundationOne Monitor and a tissue-informed WGS MRD test available for research use. FoundationOne Monitor is a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring test that uses a blood sample to provide clarity on treatment response. The tissue-informed WGS MRD test monitors hundreds to thousands of tumor-specific short variants to quantify ctDNA levels following treatment.
ID 194470444 © Josepalbert13 | Dreamstime.com
