On May 29, 2026 Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, reported a new collaboration with Diakonos Oncology Corp., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies to treat challenging and aggressive cancers. As part of the collaboration, Signatera will be used to longitudinally assess molecular response in patients with refractory melanoma enrolled in Diakonos’ DOC-RM Phase I/II investigational immunotherapy trial.
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The DOC-RM trial, which began enrollment in May, is evaluating DOC1021 (dubodencel), a first-in-class, personalized dendritic cell investigational therapy that recently received Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in unresectable or metastatic cutaneous melanoma. With Signatera, Natera will conduct analyses of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) at multiple timepoints during and following treatment.
Refractory melanoma is an area of significant unmet need. Although immunotherapy has transformed the treatment landscape for advanced melanoma, many patients either do not respond or eventually develop resistance, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Because radiographic response assessment can be challenging in immunotherapy-treated patients, serial ctDNA monitoring may provide earlier insight into molecular response and disease dynamics during treatment.1
"With an FDA Fast Track designation in hand, DOC1021’s path forward in refractory melanoma will benefit from early, high-quality evidence of activity," said Jay Hartenbach, president and COO of Diakonos Oncology. "Natera’s Signatera test is the most trusted tumor-informed MRD platform in oncology, making them a natural partner to help evaluate molecular response in a population where imaging often lags the biology."
"Signatera is uniquely positioned to help biopharma partners evaluate molecular response throughout the course of therapy, and we are thrilled to partner with Diakonos on this exciting program," said Eric Matthews, general manager, BioPharma, Natera. "By assessing MRD status across multiple timepoints, this collaboration has the potential to provide deep insight into treatment response dynamics and support future development efforts for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers."
(Press release, Diakonos Oncology, MAY 29, 2026, View Source [SID1234666233])