Cambridge, 17th July 2008 … Lab21, a quality provider of healthcare diagnostic products and state of the art diagnostic services, is pleased to offer its newly launched K-RAS gene mutation and its epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing services to its international customers. The Company has seen the demand for K-RAS testing increase 10 fold since its launch at the beginning of the year and, with recent investment in people and systems, Lab21 is set to ramp capacity by 10 fold again to cope with the projected demand.
Recent drug licences for VectibixTM and ErbituxTM require analysis of the KRAS gene in the tumour to assess if a patient will respond to the therapy. Through its international logistics function, Lab21 is now able to assist UK and international healthcare providers in screening patients for this genetic mutation.
Lab21’s fully accredited laboratories based in Cambridge, UK are already receiving patient samples from around the world including the Middle East, mainland Europe and the US. “Through our dedicated help-line, strong logistics and high quality testing function we are able to provide rapid turnaround from as little as 5-days and tailored reporting for many overseas customers”, added Dr Berwyn Clarke, CSDO of Lab21.
Dr Aladdin Maarraoui, Mafraq Hospital Abu Dhabi, commented “I am grateful to Lab21 for providing such quick and high quality results for my patients as testing for K-RAS mutation gives me great comfort that I will offer targeted therapy to the group of patients that are likely to respond to it. This is the future of oncology, to offer designer drugs for the group of patients who have the targeted mutated gene”.
At the recent ASCO meeting in Chicago last month, Eric Van Cutsem, Professor at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium urged that KRAS testing should be routinely conducted in all colorectal cancer patients immediately after diagnosis to ensure the best treatment strategies for the individual patient.
Graham Mullis, CEO of Lab21 added: “As new clinical data becomes available increasing the demand for companion diagnostic tests such as K-RAS testing, then Lab21 will invest more in its systems, customer services and logistics so that these crucial support tools can be made available for more patients, including on an international basis. Lab21 will also continue to add more oncology genetic testing in the near future as we expand the services we can offer to healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies.”
