Molecular diagnostics company Biodesix Inc, Boulder, Colo, and clinical cancer genomics company Inivata, Cambridge, England, have recently announced a partnership to develop and commercialize next-generation sequencing (NGS) blood-based tests for clinical applications in lung cancer.
Michael Stocum, Inivata
The agreement will leverage Inivata’s proprietary, enhanced TAm-Seq technology platform and Biodesix’s development and commercialization capabilities in the US market to provide new, clinically actionable tests to physicians.
“Approximately 30% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are unable to obtain a biopsy, or have insufficient tissue from a lung cancer biopsy, to provide the diagnostic information needed for their care,” says Michael Stocum, Inivata CEO. “Blood-based diagnostics can make a real difference in such cases. Using Inivata’s circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis platform, we can now provide information that was previously unattainable for these patients, leading to better outcomes.”
Inivata develops clinical applications of ctDNA through collaborations with clinical oncologists at prominent academic institutions, leading community treatment centers and innovative biopharmaceutical companies.
Under the terms of their agreement, Inivata and Biodesix will conduct studies of NSCLC using Inivata’s NGS technology platform. Biodesix and Inivata will jointly fund studies to establish clinical utility for an NGS-based test and will initiate an observational study later this year.
David Brunel, Biodesix
Biodesix discovers, develops, and commercializes multivariate protein diagnostics based on its proprietary mass spectrometry-based discovery platform. In addition to developing novel diagnostics independently, the company partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics to improve utility of therapeutic agents.
“Along with VeriStrat, a serum protein test that is already commercially available to help physicians guide treatment decisions for patients with advanced NSCLC, the blood-based NGS tests we’re developing with Inivata will further drive towards precision medicine by guiding diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring for patients with NSCLC,” says David Brunel, Biodesix CEO.
Nitzan Rosenfeld, Inivata
“The combination of our world-class blood-based sequencing technology with Biodesix’s ability to develop and establish diagnostics as standard of care creates a strong platform to develop new highly clinically relevant tests,” says Nitzan Rosenfeld, chief scientific officer at Inivata. “We are excited to be working with Biodesix to improve the care offered to cancer patients.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. To more effectively understand how NGS-blood based tests can improve care for patients with lung cancer, Biodesix and Inivata will be working with key opinion leaders and pharmaceutical companies.
For further information visit Biodesix and Inivata.
