Put It on the Board, 6/16

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Siemens enters molecular oncology services market

Siemens has expanded its diagnostics portfolio with the acquisition of NEO New Oncology of Cologne, Germany. The company’s cancer genome diagnostic platform NEO will support pathologists and oncologists with comprehensive molecular information to help select targeted cancer therapies.

NEO New Oncology is developing molecular profiling assays based on next-generation sequencing for tissue specimens and body liquids.

The acquisition of NEO New Oncology is intended to provide Siemens—whose health care division now operates as Siemens Healthineers—an entry point into NGS-based genomic testing and expands its capabilities in precision medicine and companion diagnostics. Furthermore, the acquisition aims to establish a business prospect in the field of molecular services, with the plan to provide testing services to physicians, hospitals, and laboratories.
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Roche PD-L1 tabbed as complementary test

The FDA has approved Roche’s Ventana PD-L1 (SP142) Assay as a complementary diagnostic for patients who are considering treatment with the FDA-approved Roche immunotherapy Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for metastatic urothelial cancer. This test is the first to evaluate patient PD-L1 status using immune cell staining and scoring within the tumor microenvironment.

The assay can identify patients most likely to respond to treatment with Tecentriq, as demonstrated by higher overall response rates in cohort two of the IMvigor 210 clinical trial. The novel approach uses immunohistochemistry technology designed to visually enhance and score PD-L1 protein on tumor-infiltrating immune cells. In an analysis based on 14.4 months of median follow-up, Tecentriq shrank tumors in 15 percent of people evaluable for efficacy whose disease progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. Tecentriq shrank tumors in 26 percent of people whose disease had medium and high levels of PD-L1 expression.

PD-L1 testing is not required for the use of Tecentriq, but it may provide additional information for physicians and inform patient dialogue. [hr]