Foundation Medicine has entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to develop companion diagnostic assays in oncology.
The companies will develop assays to facilitate personalized medicine in oncology, helping patients to benefit from medicines within the oncology pipeline of AstraZeneca.
Under the deal, AstraZeneca will use Foundation Medicine’s quality systems regulations (QSR)-compliant version of comprehensive genomic profiling assay for solid tumors to recruit patients for clinical trials of therapies that target genomically driven mechanisms of disease.
The companion diagnostic assays will evaluate multiple cancer-related genes, in addition to four classes of genomic alterations.
As part of a coordinated regulatory strategy, the assays will be developed in parallel with the clinical development of AstraZeneca medicines.
AstraZeneca personalised healthcare and biomarkers head and vice president Ruth March said: "We use companion diagnostics throughout clinical development to deliver innovative, targeted therapies to patients most likely to benefit.
"The leading genomic profiling approach provided by Foundation Medicine can help ensure that patients are matched with therapies specifically targeted to the molecular drivers of their disease."
Foundation Medicine president and COO Dr Steven Kafka said: "We’re delighted to expand our relationship with AstraZeneca to now include the development of companion diagnostics for their novel anti-cancer medicines."
Foundation Medicine produces clinical assays for solid tumors, hematologic malignancies and sarcomes. These will provide a comprehensive genomic profile to identify the molecular alterations in a patient’s cancer and cope with relevant targeted therapies and clinical trials.
AstraZeneca’s oncology division is engaged in developing medicines for the treatment of lung, ovarian, breast and blood cancers.
Image: Foundation Medicine has partnered with AstraZeneca to develop companion diagnostic assays in oncology. Photo: courtesy of Suwit Ritjaroon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.