Thermo Fisher, Agios Pharma to Co-develop Oncology CDx

Thermo Fisher Scientific has expanded its strategic partnership with Agios Pharmaceuticals for the co-development of a second companion diagnostic (CDx) for oncology. The CDx will leverage the Oncomine Precision Assay, which runs on the new Ion Torrent Genexus System, and will be used globally 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). Vorasidenib is an investigational, oral, brain-penetrant inhibitor of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations that is being developed by Agios and is currently in Phase III development.

Gliomas represent a broad range of primary brain tumors, ranging from highly aggressive glioblastomas to slow-growing LGG. About 11,000 new LGG patients are diagnosed in the U.S. and Europe each year, and about 80 percent have an IDH1 gene mutation.

“The speed of the Genexus System in combination with the Oncomine Precision Assay has the potential to change the pace in which those diagnosed with LGG can be stratified and directed to a potentially more effective treatment in the future,” said Garret Hampton, president of clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We are committed to collaborating with leading pharmaceutical partners to make precision medicine accessible to more patients everywhere.”