Cardiff Oncology Data Continues to Demonstrate Efficacy, Durability and Safety of Onvansertib in Patients with Difficult-to-Treat Relapsed/Refractory AML

On June 15, 2020 Cardiff Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDF), a clinical-stage oncology therapeutics company developing drugs to treat cancers with the greatest medical need for new treatment options, including KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer, Zytiga-resistant prostate cancer and leukemia, reported presentation of final results of its Phase 1b study, and preliminary positive data from its Phase 2 study, in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Cardiff Oncology, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561098]). The data was presented as a virtual poster presentation at the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) annual conference.

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The presentation highlighted the efficacy, durability of response, favorable safety and tolerability profile, as well as correlative biomarker data. Anti-leukemic activity was observed at a wide range of onvansertib doses (27 to 90 mg/m2), indicating a large therapeutic window.
The EHA (Free EHA Whitepaper) poster presentation is available for download from the Scientific Presentations page on the Cardiff Oncology website at View Source

"While the trial is still ongoing, we are encouraged by the efficacy we are seeing thus far in patients with relapsed/refractory AML, particularly the durability of response observed in some patients," said Dr. Amer Zeidan, lead investigator and associate professor of Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, and the medical director of Hematology Early Therapeutics Research at Yale Cancer Center. "As we continue with enrollment and assessment of efficacy in the Phase 2 portion of the trial, I look forward to seeing additional clinical benefit with the combination of onvansertib and decitabine in our patients in an indication that is in dire need of new safe and effective treatment options."

Presentation Highlights
Safety and Tolerability:
•In Phase 1b, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was established at 60 mg/m2 with no dose-limiting toxicities through this dose level
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•Treatment-related toxicities continue to be primarily on-target hematological; with rash and mucositis being reported at higher onvansertib doses
Efficacy
Completed Phase 1b:
•Anti-leukemic activity was observed at a wide range of onvansertib doses (27 to 90 mg/m2), indicating a large therapeutic window
•Of the 21 patients evaluable for efficacy in the completed Phase 1b dose escalation study, 7 (33%) achieved an objective response; 5 (31%) of 16 patients who achieved a complete response (CR/CRi) were treated at the four highest onvansertib dose levels (27 – 90 mg/m2)
•3 patients remain on treatment; time since clinical response is 6, 12 and 15 months, respectively
Ongoing Phase 2:
•Of the 7 patients completing 1 cycle of treatment as of the data cutoff, 28% achieved an objective response:
◦1 patient achieved a CRi at cycle 1 and a CR at cycle 2; time since response is 3 months and the patient continues on treatment
◦1 patient achieved a partial response at cycle 1 and remains on treatment
Biomarker Analysis:
•Decreases in mutant ctDNA after 1 cycle of treatment were highly predictive of clinical response
•Target engagement in circulating blasts was associated with greater decrease in bone marrow blasts

About the Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Onvansertib in AML
The Phase 2 AML trial (NCT03303339) of onvansertib in combination with decitabine will enroll 32 patients who are either treatment naïve and not candidates for induction therapy or who have relapsed disease after treatment with one prior regimen. Patients will receive onvansertib, administered orally, on days 1 through 5 of each 21-28-day cycle in combination with decitabine. The primary efficacy endpoint of objective response (CR + CRi) will be assessed in patients who complete at least 1 cycle of treatment.
About Onvansertib
Onvansertib is a first-in-class, third-generation, oral and highly-selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive inhibitor of the serine/threonine polo-like-kinase 1 (PLK1) enzyme, which is over-expressed in multiple cancers including leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumors. Onvansertib targets the PLK1 isoform only (not PLK2 or PLK3), is orally administered and has a 24-hour half-life with only mild-to-moderate side effects reported.
Onvansertib has demonstrated synergy in preclinical studies with numerous chemotherapies and targeted therapeutics used to treat leukemias, lymphomas and solid tumor cancers, including irinotecan, FLT3 and HDAC inhibitors, taxanes and cytotoxins. Cardiff Oncology
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believes the combination of onvansertib with other compounds has the potential to improve clinical efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as other types of cancer.
Cardiff Oncology has three ongoing clinical trials of onvansertib: A Phase 2 trial of onvansertib in combination with Zytiga (abiraterone acetate)/prednisone in patients with mCRPC who are showing signs of early progressive disease (rise in PSA but minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic) while currently receiving Zytiga (NCT03414034); a Phase 1b/2 Study of onvansertib in combination with FOLFIRI and Avastin for second-line treatment in patients with mCRC with a KRAS mutation (NCT03829410); and a Phase 2 clinical trial of onvansertib in combination with decitabine in patients with relapsed or refractory AML (NCT03303339).
Cardiff Oncology licensed onvansertib (also known as NMS-1286937 and PCM-075) from Nerviano Medical Sciences (NMS), the largest oncology-focused research and development company in Italy, and a leader in protein kinase drug development. NMS has an excellent track record of licensing innovative drugs to pharma/biotech companies, including Array/Pfizer, Ignyta/Roche and Genentech.

Sanofi’s emerging oncology pipeline highlighted at the AACR Virtual Annual Meeting II

On June 15, 2020 Sanofi reported that preclinical data for investigational compounds in breast, lung, multiple myeloma and other cancers will be featured at the American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting II on June 22-24 (Press release, Sanofi, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561114]). The results that will be presented underscore the Company’s commitment to transforming scientific knowledge and advances in innovative oncology therapies.

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"We believe the innovation and efforts we are driving in oncology have the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of people living with cancer," said Yong Jun Liu, Global Head of Research, Senior Vice President R&D at Sanofi. "Preclinical data presented at this year’s AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Meeting II showcase the depth of our pipeline and support the continued exploration of our investigational assets that reflect some of the most cutting-edge scientific technologies and platforms in oncology."

Preclinical data show anti-tumor activity and support further research across a range of solid tumors, including evolving evidence in breast and lung cancers

Sanofi continues to embrace a variety of technological approaches to address some of the hardest-to-treat forms of cancer, including breast and lung cancer.

Abstract 3452: Pre-clinical development of next generation Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader – SAR439859 (Dr. Fangxian Sun, Sr.; Tuesday, June 23: Virtual Minisymposium Session, 10:20-10:30 AM)

SAR439859 (SERD ‘859) is a oral endocrine backbone therapy in hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer that selectively binds to estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells to block signaling and trigger their degradation. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer worldwide, with an estimated 70-80% of breast cancers being HR+.

Preclinical research from SERD ‘859 demonstrated anti-tumor activity in HR+ breast cancer cell lines.
SERD ‘859 showed significant anti-tumor activity against endocrine-therapy-resistant, patient-derived tumor models that correlated with pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure and pharmacodynamic (PD) modulation in target tissue.
Looking to potential combination therapies, researchers observed strong synergistic activity between SERD ‘859 and palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor
Abstract 561/16: Pre-clinical efficacy data for the anti-CEACAM5-DM4 ADC SAR408701 supports further development in lung and gastro-intestinal cancers (Dr. Stephanie Decary; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

SAR408701 (SAR ‘701) is Sanofi’s potential first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate targeting CEACAM5 (carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5), a cell-surface glycoprotein that is highly expressed in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Approximately 20-30% of lung cancers have a high expression of CEACAM5.

Results from patient-derived xenograft mouse studies of SAR ‘701 in non-small cell lung cancer will be presented.
Findings revealed a potential correlation between preclinical activity of the compound and the expression of CEACAM5 in lung tumors.
Further exploration of SAR ‘701 clinical activity is also ongoing across a number of CEACAM5-expressing solid tumors.
Abstract 1943/10: SHP2 inhibition as the backbone of targeted therapy combinations for the treatment of cancers driven by oncogenic mutations in the RAS pathway (Dr. Jacqueline Smith; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00AM-6:00PM)

SAR442720 (RMC-4630) is an investigational inhibitor of the cellular enzyme SHP2 developed jointly by Sanofi and Revolution Medicines. Inhibitors of SHP2 are designed to reduce cell growth signaling in the RAS-MAP kinase pathway that is frequently overactive in human cancers, like NSCLC.

Results from preclinical combination studies showed SAR442720 enhanced the anti-tumor activity of EGFR-mutant or KRASG12C inhibitors.
Preclinical data add to growing body of evidence supporting Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc) in multiple myeloma and other blood cancers

Sanofi is committed to investigating new treatments for patients with multiple myeloma, a difficult-to-treat blood cancer, who often need multiple lines of therapy. Despite available treatments, multiple myeloma remains an incurable malignancy and is associated with significant patient burden.

Abstract 5179/5: Isatuximab based combinations induce potent tumor growth inhibition in pre-clinical models of multiple myeloma and acute lymphocytic leukemia (Dr. Chen Zhu; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the CD38 receptor on multiple myeloma cells. It is currently approved for use in the U.S. and EU in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of certain adults who have received at least two prior therapies including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor.

Results from a study using patient-derived mouse xenograft models showed anti-tumor activity with Sarclisa in combination with standard-of-care treatments in both multiple myeloma (pomalidomide, lenalidomide, bortezomid, carfilzomib, melphalan) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (vincristine, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide). These potential uses of Sarclisa are investigational, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
Early science: new approaches in blood cancer research

Abstract 2266/1: SAR442085, a next generation anti-CD38 antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against multiple myeloma (Dr. Angela Virone-Oddos; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

Current anti-CD38 treatments in combination with standard treatments represent a major advancement in the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, but unmet needs remain. Sanofi scientists investigating a next-generation anti-CD38 antibody SAR442085 for the treatment of multiple myeloma will present preclinical data at the meeting.

Findings from a study of SAR442085 include antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity in vivo compared to currently available anti-CD38 antibodies.
SAR442085 demonstrated a higher level of natural killer (NK) cell activation against primary plasma cells in patient samples and potent in vivo single-agent activity against tumor cells expressing human CD38 in a C57BL/6 mouse model.
SAR442085 is currently being evaluated in Phase I clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Abstract 5641/2: CD28 expression on multiple myeloma cells enhances the cytotoxic activity of CD38/CD28xCD3 trispecific T-cell engager (Dr. Nizar El-Murr; Monday, June 22: Poster Display, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM)

Sanofi scientists are also investigating the trispecific T-cell engager SAR442257 (CD38/CD28xCD3) as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma.

Preclinical data show that SAR442257 is active on CD38 in multiple myeloma models.
SAR442257 can also directly target CD28, a T-cell activating protein expressed on tumor cells, enhancing the protein’s anti-tumor activity and allowing it to bind to tumor cells when CD38 is occupied by other antibodies.
The clinical significance of the preclinical findings relating to SERD ‘859, SAR ‘701, SAR442720, Sarclisa, SAR442085 and SAR442257 described above are currently under investigation.

About Sarclisa

Sarclisa is a monoclonal antibody that binds to a specific epitope on the CD38 receptor on MM cells. It is designed to work through multiple mechanisms of action including programmed tumor cell death (apoptosis) and immunomodulatory activity. CD38 is highly and uniformly expressed on the surface of MM cells, making it a potential target for antibody-based therapeutics such as Sarclisa.

Sarclisa is approved in the EU, U.S., Switzerland, Canada and Australia in combination with pom-dex for the treatment of certain adults with relapsed refractory MM. In the U.S., the generic name for Sarclisa is isatuximab-irfc, with irfc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sarclisa continues to be evaluated in multiple ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials in combination with current standard treatments across the MM treatment continuum. It is also under investigation for the treatment of other hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The safety and efficacy of these additional uses have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.

For more information on Sarclisa clinical trials please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION FOR U.S. PATIENTS

What is SARCLISA?

SARCLISA is a prescription medicine used in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone to treat adults who have received at least 2 prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor, to treat multiple myeloma.

It is not known if SARCLISA is safe and effective in children.

Do not receive SARCLISA if you have a history of severe allergic reaction to isatuximab-irfc or any of the ingredients in SARCLISA (see the list of ingredients in full Prescribing Information).

Before receiving SARCLISA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. SARCLISA may harm your unborn baby. You should not receive SARCLISA during pregnancy.
Females who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 5 months after your last dose of SARCLISA. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that you can use during this time.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you are pregnant or become pregnant during treatment with SARCLISA.

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if SARCLISA passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment with SARCLISA.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How will I receive SARCLISA?

SARCLISA will be given to you by your healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion into your vein.
SARCLISA is given in treatment cycles of 28 days (4 weeks), together with the medicines pomalidomide and dexamethasone.
In cycle 1, SARCLISA is usually given weekly.
Starting in cycle 2, SARCLISA is usually given every 2 weeks.
Your healthcare provider will decide how long you should receive SARCLISA.

If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.
Your healthcare provider will give you medicines before each dose of SARCLISA to help reduce the risk of infusion reactions (make them less frequent and severe).
What are the possible side effects of SARCLISA?

SARCLISA may cause serious side effects, including:

Infusion reactions. Infusion reactions are common with SARCLISA and can sometimes be severe.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe medicines before each infusion of SARCLISA to help decrease your risk for infusion reactions or to help make any infusion reaction less severe. You will be monitored for infusion reactions during each dose of SARCLISA.
Your healthcare provider may slow down or stop your infusion, or completely stop treatment with SARCLISA, if you have an infusion reaction.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms of infusion reaction during or within 24 hours after an infusion of SARCLISA:

feeling short of breath
cough
chills
nausea
Decreased white blood cell counts. Decreased white blood cell counts are common with SARCLISA and certain white blood cells can be severely decreased. You may have an increased risk of getting certain infections, such as upper and lower respiratory infections.
Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment with SARCLISA. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic or antiviral medicine to help prevent infection, or a medicine to help increase your white blood cell counts during treatment with SARCLISA.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any fever or symptoms of infection during treatment with SARCLISA.

Risk of new cancers. New cancers have happened in people during treatment with SARCLISA. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for new cancers during treatment with SARCLISA.
Change in blood tests. SARCLISA can affect the results of blood tests to match your blood type. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to match your blood type before you start treatment with SARCLISA. Tell all of your healthcare providers that you are being treated with SARCLISA before receiving blood transfusions.
The most common side effects of SARCLISA include:

-lung infection (pneumonia)

-upper respiratory tract infection

-decreased red blood cell counts

(anemia)

-diarrhea

-decreased platelet counts (thrombocytopenia)

These are not all the possible side effects of SARCLISA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Lantern Pharma Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

On June 15, 2020 Lantern Pharma Inc. (LTRN) (the "Company"), a clinical stage biotechnology company, focused on leveraging artificial intelligence ("A.I."), machine learning and genomic data to streamline the drug development process and to identify the patients that will benefit from its targeted oncology therapies, reported the closing of its initial public offering of 1,750,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $26,250,000, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses (Press release, Lantern Pharma, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561164]). In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 262,500 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments.

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ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc. acted as sole book-running manager for the offering. Colliers Securities LLC and Paulson Investment Company, LLC acted as co-managers for the offering.

Registration statements on Form S-1 (Files No. 333-237714 and 333-239112) relating to the shares were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and became effective on June 10, 2020, or automatically became effective, as applicable. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained from ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., 17 State Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10004, by telephone at (877) 436-3673, by email at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

BERGENBIO TO PRESENT TOP LINE TRANSLATIONAL PHASE II DATA WITH BEMCENTINIB IN COMBINATION WITH KEYTRUDA® IN NSCLC PATIENTS AT Next Gen Immuno-Oncology Congress

On June 15, 2020 BerGenBio ASA (OSE:BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for severe unmet medical need, reported that its abstract has been accepted for oral virtual presentation at the 3rd Annual Next Gen Immuno-Oncology Congress, which takes place from 25-26 June 2020 (Press release, BerGenBio, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561099]).

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The presentation to be given by Prof. Hani Gabra MD PhD, CMO BerGenBio, will provide an update of results from a phase II trial (BGBC008), evaluating bemcentinib in combination with MSD’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with confirmed progression, including positive top line clinical and translational data from stage 1 of Cohort B in patients having failed prior immune checkpoint therapy.

The presentation will be available on the Company website in the Presentations section on 25 June: www.bergenbio.com/investors/presentations/

Title: Targeting AXL to leverage checkpoint immunotherapy: ​Updated results of the BGBC008 phase II study of bemcentinib and pembrolizumab in recurrent NSCLC

Date and time: 25 June 2020, 10am EST

Session name: Targeted Antibodies and Cellular Therapy

About AXL

AXL kinase is a cell membrane receptor and an essential mediator of the biological mechanisms underlying life-threatening diseases. In cancer, AXL suppresses the body’s immune response to tumours and drives cancer treatment failure across many indications. AXL expression defines a very poor prognosis subgroup in most cancers. AXL inhibitors, therefore, have potential high value at the centre of cancer combination therapy, addressing significant unmet medical needs and multiple high-value market opportunities. Research has also shown that AXL mediates other aggressive diseases.

About Bemcentinib

Bemcentinib (formerly known as BGB324), is a potentially first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in a broad phase II clinical development programme. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating bemcentinib in multiple solid and haematological tumours, in combination with current and emerging therapies (including immunotherapies, targeted therapies and chemotherapy), and as a single agent. Bemcentinib targets and binds to the intracellular catalytic kinase domain of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and inhibits its activity. Increase in AXL function has been linked to key mechanisms of drug resistance and immune escape by tumour cells, leading to aggressive metastatic cancers.

FDA Grants Breakthrough Device Designation to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Oncomine Precision Assay to Identify IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations in Low-Grade Glioma Patients

On June 15, 2020 Thermo Fisher Scientific reported that The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Device Designation to Oncomine Precision Assay to identify low-grade glioma (LGG) patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) mutations who may be eligible for vorasidenib (AG-881) (Press release, Thermo Fisher Scientific, JUN 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234561115]). The assay, first introduced to the market as a research product in November 2019, is designed to run on the new Ion Torrent Genexus System, the first fully automated next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform with a specimen-to-report workflow that delivers comprehensive genomic profiling results in a single day.

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Thermo Fisher recently announced it had expanded its strategic partnership agreement with Agios Pharmaceuticals to co-develop the companion diagnostic (CDx) for vorasidenib, an investigational, oral, brain-penetrant, dual inhibitor of mutant IDH1 and IDH2 enzymes currently under evaluation in the Phase 3 INDIGO study for IDH mutant LGG. Over time, Thermo Fisher seeks to receive premarket approval (PMA) for the Oncomine Precision Assay as a companion diagnostic for multiple therapies, as well as approval for liquid biopsy tumor profiling in lung cancer and solid tissue tumor profiling in multiple cancer types.

"Access to timely, comprehensive genomic profiling data that supports well-informed treatment decisions can be challenging under the current cancer-testing paradigm," said Dr. Alain Mita, Associate Professor of Medicine, Co-Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "The possibility of having multi-biomarker profiling that is generated onsite and available in about a day is game-changing for the manner and speed in which oncologists are able to determine and prescribe the most appropriate treatment for their patients."

The goal of the FDA’s Breakthrough Device Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to medical devices by speeding up their assessment and review, while preserving the agency’s statutory standards. Once cleared under PMA, the Oncomine Precision Assay will maximize detection of guideline-recommended biomarkers, such as EGFR, ALK, KRAS, BRAF, ROS1, NTRK, RET, HER2 and others.

When combined with the Genexus System, molecular testing laboratories can generate comprehensive NGS results within the same timeframe as single-gene tests. Additionally, these features set the stage for molecular pathologists in the future to analyze NGS information in parallel with first-line testing modalities, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC).

"Breakthrough designation for the companion diagnostic is a big step forward in our endeavor to ensure that more clinicians can have quicker access to comprehensive genomic information," said Garret Hampton, president of clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Receiving this insight at the speed that the Genexus System enables can help expedite patient therapy selection, which is a critical need in the clinic today."

With its unprecedented speed to results, the Genexus System is positioned to accelerate a broad range of application areas, including oncology, infectious disease, inherited disease and reproductive health, among others. Since its launch in November 2019 as a research only solution, the integrated sequencer has also been enabled to analyze SARS-CoV-2 samples to support epidemiology or contact tracing studies.