Royal Philips and Illumin Inc. announced a strategic collaboration that aims to integrate Illumina's sequencing systems for large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function and Philips' IntelliSpace Genomics clinical informatics platform, and to coordinate marketing and sales of the resulting solutions. Philips and Illumina will also seek to engage in clinical research collaborations with health systems in the U.S. that want to develop precision medicine programs in oncology.
Genentech said FDA accepted the company's supplemental Biologics License Application and granted Priority Review for Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for the treatment of people with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are ineligible for cisplatin chemotherapy, and are either previously untreated or have disease progression at least 12 months after receiving chemotherapy before surgery or after surgery.
EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and MD Anderson Cancer Center announced a three-year strategic collaboration, with the aim of more quickly advancing the development of investigational cancer therapies in four cancers--breast, colorectal, glioblastoma and leukemia.
Vescor LLC, a new company focused on discovery and development of autophagy targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment, was formed by MD Anderson Cancer Center, Deerfield Management and two autophagy experts, Eileen White, deputy director and associate director for Basic Science, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and Alec Kimmelman, chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center and a member of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone.
Exact Sciences Corp. announced that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's Center for Clinical Effectiveness "Evidence Street" recently released a positive review of Cologuard to its members.
Mylan N.V. and Biocon Ltd. said FDA has accepted Mylan's biologics license application for MYL-1401O, a proposed biosimilar trastuzumab, for filing through the 351(k) pathway.
FDA released the final guidance for industry "Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products."
The American Association for Cancer Research announced the first public release of cancer genomic data aggregated through its initiative known as AACR Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE).
Strata Oncology today announced launch of the Strata Trial, a nationwide observational study providing no-cost tumor sequencing and clinical trial matching for 100,000 advanced cancer patients, to study the impact of tumor sequencing on clinical trial enrollment.
FoundationFocus CDxBRCA received FDA approval for use as a companion diagnostic to aid in identifying women with ovarian cancer.