Foundation Medicine Extends and Expands Collaboration with Novartis
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Foundation Medicine has announced that it has extended and expanded its ongoing collaboration with Novartis to provide molecular information and comprehensive genomic profiling analysis in support of many of Novartis' clinical oncology programs.
As the result of Foundation Medicine and Novartis' pilot program established in January 2011 and an expanded three-year agreement in June 2012, Foundation Medicine's comprehensive genomic profiling has generated clinically relevant data and is now regularly used in many of Novartis' oncology clinical trials.
This new agreement, which the companies agreed to extend and expand prior to the end of the existing term, includes committed capacity for Foundation Medicine to provide genomic profiling of patient samples from Novartis clinical trials, as well as access to Foundation Medicine's molecular information and analysis services.
The new three-year agreement also gives Novartis the option to extend the term for an additional two-year period. Financial terms are not being disclosed.
"We are deeply committed to our relationship with Novartis and pleased with the continued growth of our collaboration," said Michael J. Pellini, M.D., president and CEO, Foundation Medicine.
Pellini continued, "In addition to providing comprehensive genomic profiling for patients in Novartis clinical trials, this expanded agreement will allow Novartis to take advantage of our unique and growing database of molecular information to support the evaluation and development of Novartis' oncology drug candidates, biological targets and clinical trials."
Foundation Medicine uses comprehensive, clinical grade next-generation sequencing to assess routine cancer specimens for all genes that are currently known to be somatically altered and unambiguous drivers of oncogenesis in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, as well as many sarcomas and pediatric cancers.
Novartis uses these capabilities to support its targeted therapy clinical development efforts by helping to align the genomic profile of individual patient's cancer with clinical trial enrollment criteria and clinical outcome analysis.
