Recent drug licences for Amgen and Merck Serono in the colorectal cancer area have highlighted the growing emergence of companion diagnostics as a prerequisite to drug prescription in order to tailor therapies to specific patients. Both VectibixTM and ErbituxTM require analysis of the KRAS gene in the tumour prior to therapy and Lab21 recently launched its KRAS mutational analysis service within the UK.
Other clinical data suggests that patients with mutations in their EGFR gene may also not respond to inhibitor drugs for the treatment of cancers because antibodies and small molecule drugs cannot bind to the receptor. This means the receptor is not inhibited, and treatments such as gefitinib and erlotinib may not work.
As some patients will not respond to these treatments the availability of companion diagnostic testing services allows more efficient patient management but can also be used to ensure limited health budgets are used effectively ensuring only patients who will benefit from a particular treatment will receive it.
The launch of the EGFR testing service builds on Lab21’s existing service which offers testing for mutations in the KRAS gene. Both tests were developed by DxS and have full regulatory approval in Europe.
Dr Berwyn Clarke, CSDO of Lab21 commented: “Recent data from the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting has shown just how important companion diagnostics are becoming. As more medicines are developed with associated biomarker information the provision of high technology molecular diagnostics such as KRAS and EGFR will become an essential clinical requirement. We are committed to offering high quality, fast turnaround services to our clients in order to meet this need”
Graham Mullis, CEO of Lab21 added: “Companion diagnostic tests are becoming ever more important for personalised medicine, particularly in oncology, and the expansion of our services in this area is good news for patients and healthcare providers. Through this new test we can expand our offering with fast and effective testing and an integrated cancer management service to support healthcare providers.”
