NEW YORK – Personalis said Tuesday that it has entered a strategic collaboration with the Moores Cancer Center at University of California San Diego Health, which includes clinical diagnostic testing for cancer patients, research using the company's minimal residual disease liquid biopsy test, and studies aimed at discovering new composite biomarkers.
Under the collaboration, UCSD physicians will be able to use Personalis’ comprehensive genomic tumor profiling test to help guide FDA-approved therapy decisions and clinical trial treatment options for their patients. The company's assay provides full exome and transcriptome information across all human genes and is able to simultaneously characterize both tumor and immune genomics.
According to Richard Chen, Personalis' chief medical officer and senior VP of R&D, the company will also work with UCSD investigators to develop "novel composite biomarkers to improve patient outcomes in the future."
In addition, the partners will conduct research studies using Personalis' newly launched liquid biopsy assay for minimal residual disease and cancer recurrence detection, NeXT Personal.
The test involves whole-genome sequencing of a patient's tumor to identify up to 1,800 somatic variants that are subsequently used to create a personalized liquid biopsy panel.
Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.