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Pharmaceutical industry

Illumina and Merck Serono Collaborate on Universal Cancer Test

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Illumina, a leading next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology company, has formed a partnership with Merck Serono to develop a universal oncology diagnostic test. This collaboration aims to create a comprehensive tool for precision medicine in cancer treatment, allowing for the detection and measurement of multiple genetic variants simultaneously. The partnership will focus on test development, regulatory approvals, and commercialization, with the goal of revolutionizing clinical trials for targeted cancer therapies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Illumina and Merck Serono will develop a universal NGS-based oncology diagnostic test to support clinical trials of targeted cancer therapies.
  • The collaboration will focus on creating assays that detect and measure multiple genetic variants simultaneously to support precision medicine in cancer treatment.
  • The partnership will include test development, worldwide regulatory approvals, and global commercialization.
  • Illumina continues to collaborate with the Actionable Genome Consortium to set standards for NGS-based assays in routine clinical oncology practice.
  • The collaboration is seen as a step forward in realizing the promise of precision medicine, as outlined in the US government's Precision Medicine Initiative.

Statistics:

  • Illumina and Merck Serono's collaboration aims to create a universal test system for clinical trials of targeted cancer therapies.
  • The partnership will include test development, regulatory approvals, and commercialization, with the goal of revolutionizing clinical trials for targeted cancer therapies.
  • Illumina's next-generation sequencing technology enables the detection and measurement of multiple genetic variants simultaneously.
  • The US government's Precision Medicine Initiative specifically outlines the need to expand genetically-based clinical trials as a key approach for developing better treatments for cancer.

Sources:

  • Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) press release, March 10
  • Susan Herbert, Head of Global Business Development at Merck Serono
  • Richard Klausner, MD, Illumina's Chief Medical Officer and President of the Actionable Genome Consortium
  • White House press release: Precision Medicine Initiative (January 2015)

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