Launch solid tumor hotspot panel for biopharma and clinical customers throughout Asia
Cancer Genetics announced that Cancer Genetics India (CG India) has launched a next-generation sequencing (NGS) based panel targeting the five most common solid tumours: breast, colorectal, lung, skin and ovarian cancer for the Indian and broader Asian markets. The NGS-based panel provides a comprehensive genomic assessment of cancer mutations with dramatically increased sensitivity compared to other testing methodologies, and can be applied to over 370,000 patients annually in India alone. The NGS panel covers over 2,800 clinically validated, common cancer mutations and can be used from as little as 10 nanograms of DNA from a variety of sample types, including fresh frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.
The tests is expected to help CG India in its strategic initiative to generate a library of critical, actionable genomic data that can be used by clinicians for improved patient management and by researchers in India and worldwide to develop more targeted therapeutics.
“Cancer Genetics India’s NGS tumour hotspot panel will allow clinicians in India the capability to access the genomic information necessary to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with common cancers,” said Dr Vidudala Prasad, Head of Research and Development at Indo American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad, India. “It also offers valuable genomic insights for investigators working on oncology-focused clinical trials,” he added.
CG India is now one of few companies in India that is making this NGS technology and mutation hotspot panel available for use by oncologists, biopharma companies, and research organisations. Panna Sharma, CEO of Cancer Genetics commented, “There is a critical need in India and Asia for high-quality assessment of cancer that is comprehensive, genomically-guided and supported with state of the art bioinformatics. The clinical and research community will find tremendous value in both the NGS panel and in our genomic database which we expect will be an invaluable tool in the improvement of cancer outcomes for patients and in the acceleration of novel discoveries into the marketplace.”
CG India is also in discussions with a number of biopharma and research companies in the formation of strategic collaborations and partnerships to use the NGS hotspot technology for discovery and accelerated research, informed a company release. The NGS panel addresses a significant, underserved and growing market, and is expected to contribute to CG India’s overall growth.
Reportedly, the use of the NGS hotspot panel will enable the collection of a large library of genomic data that can be used to improve the quality and accuracy of clinical research and discovery efforts. Sharma added, “CG India is among the first companies to launch NGS testing in India. This new panel further establishes us as a leader in DNA-based diagnostics in India. With the launch of this new panel, we are in a unique position to deepen our collaborations and partnerships with major cancer centres, academic government institutions, and biopharma companies focused on oncology research.”
EH News Bureau