CARLSBAD, Calif., July 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global reference laboratory leaders LabCorp and Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGI) have signed agreements with Thermo Fisher Scientific to join the Next-Generation Sequencing Companion Dx Center of Excellence Program (COEP). To qualify for the COEP, all laboratory members must demonstrate high-level expertise in oncology testing, maintain a global footprint and meet the stringent criteria necessary to administer clinical trials for the development and commercialization of companion diagnostic (CDx) products.
As preferred partners, each laboratory will participate in oncology-focused clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and Thermo Fisher. The companies may also qualify for early access to Thermo Fisher’s pipeline of novel platforms and assays to assist with development of Oncomine-branded solutions for clinical and biopharma applications. Upon U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the tests, members are then well-positioned to leverage their experience with the products and be among the first to offer the tests to physicians.
“Thermo Fisher is a highly valued strategic partner to LabCorp, and we are extremely pleased to serve as a Center of Excellence laboratory for the development of next-generation sequencing-based companion diagnostics,” said David P. King, chairman and chief executive officer of LabCorp. “This partnership, along with the recent opening of our Covance companion diagnostics lab, demonstrates LabCorp’s deep commitment to these important tests, which have the promise of improving the delivery of care based on individualized patient need. Customers of our LabCorp Diagnostics and Covance Drug Development businesses will have access to the innovative technologies made possible through Thermo Fisher’s program.”
Beginning in August, CGI will start offering the Oncomine Dx Target Test, the first next-generation sequencing-based test that simultaneously screens tumor samples for multiple biomarkers associated with three FDA-approved therapies for non-small cell lung cancer. LabCorp will begin offering the test later this year. In June, the FDA granted premarket approval for the Oncomine Dx Target Test, which helps physicians match patients to targeted therapies in days instead of several weeks.
“By partnering with Thermo Fisher to develop and commercially deploy oncology next-generation sequencing panels, we have a unique and early opportunity to bring clinically validated genomic advances into a large-scale clinical setting. Targeted and clinically validated CDx testing gives us the ability to provide our customers with the critical answers they need for their patients in a much faster timeframe, in contrast to the sequential testing approach,” said Panna Sharma, CEO and President of CGI. “As a preferred partner of Thermo Fisher’s Center of Excellence Program, we look forward to bringing more of these valuable CDx testing solutions to market, which ultimately help expedite precision monitoring and therapy selection for cancer patients.”
“Thermo Fisher is committed to expanding its strategic alliances with organizations that share our vision of developing advanced technologies that help doctors get their patients on the right treatment quickly,” said Joydeep Goswami, president of Clinical Next-Generation Sequencing and Oncology for Thermo Fisher Scientific. “This is an important component of our overall strategy to enable precision oncology.”
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with revenues of $18 billion and more than 55,000 employees globally. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We help our customers accelerate life sciences research, solve complex analytical challenges, improve patient diagnostics and increase laboratory productivity. Through our premier brands Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services we offer an unmatched combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.
Media Contact Information:
Mauricio Minotta
Thermo Fisher Scientific
+1 760 929 2456
+1 760 805-5266 (mobile)
Mauricio.minotta@thermofisher.com
or
Maurissa Messier
CG Life
+1 908 208 9254
mmessier@cglife.com
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-leading-global-reference-laboratories-join-thermo-fisher-scientifics-companion-diagnostic-center-of-excellence-program-300496322.html
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
