Genetron Health Announces Co-Development Agreement with AstraZeneca R&D China for Personalized MRD Tests for Solid Tumors in China
November 29 2021 - 10:00PM
Genetron Holdings Limited (“Genetron Health” or the “Company”,
NASDAQ: GTH), a leading precision oncology platform company in
China that specializes in offering molecular profiling tests, early
cancer screening products and companion diagnostics
development, today announced that it has signed a
collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca R&D China
(“AstraZeneca – LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN”) for the joint development in
China of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based tumor-informed
(personalized) minimal residual disease (MRD) tests for various
solid tumor types. AstraZeneca plans to incorporate the
co-developed tests for China-specific studies.
Under the agreement, the companies will jointly invest capital
for this collaboration, and will work together to develop and
validate the personalized, solid tumor MRD assays for cancer
monitoring and recurrence in China. These assays will be developed
based on the genetic analysis of the primary tumor from individual
patients at the beginning of treatment. A joint committee will be
established to oversee the product development.
For solid tumor clinical trials in China that incorporate the
use of NGS-based personalized MRD tests, AstraZeneca plans to
incorporate the aforementioned co-developed MRD test in
China-specific studies, subject to fulfillment of individual study
criteria. Upon both companies' further agreement, the scope of the
agreement may also be expanded to include IVD registration and
commercialization. This is an exclusive, multi-year collaboration
agreement between both parties, with exclusivity contingent on
certain requirements.
“We are happy to work with Genetron Health with the aim to
collaboratively develop and potentially commercialize an NGS-based
MRD assay to help in directing the right treatments to the right
patients. We look forward to joining forces and leveraging both
companies’ expertise, in the hope of bringing an innovative and
effective diagnostic to benefit more cancer patients in China,”
said Jing He, Senior Vice President, Head of R&D China,
AstraZeneca.
“We are thrilled to partner with a leading oncology global
company such as AstraZeneca, and we are proud that this partnership
demonstrates the value of the initial solid tumor MRD data that we
have generated so far from Genetron’s Mutation Capsule platform,
the proprietary technology that we developed in-house,” said Sizhen
Wang, co-founder and CEO of Genetron Health. “The agreement
represents the first step of a long-term collaboration. Our goal is
to develop a world-class MRD product, by combining AstraZeneca’s
global leading position in oncology drug development and their
invaluable insights, along with our diagnostic platform and lab
expertise. We are very excited to continue working on developing
more innovative diagnostic products and solutions for cancer
patients.”
About Genetron’s MRD program in solid tumor and Mutation
Capsule technology
Genetron’s MRD program in solid tumor is powered by its Mutation
Capsule technology, which was developed in-house and has two
distinctive features that are very beneficial in the development of
liquid biopsy assays. This proprietary technology allows the
detection of methylation alterations and mutations in one reaction,
and thus it requires less blood while achieving high detection
sensitivity. The second feature is the cell-free DNA (cfDNA)
sample’s genetic and epigenetic information can be preserved and
amplified in the Mutation Capsule library, and can be used for up
to ten analyses without sacrificing sensitivity, enabling
significant time and cost savings. In addition to the profiling of
different panels of mutation and methylation markers, the library
can also be used for low-depth whole genome sequencing to profile
genome-wide parameters. It also has the function of de novo
discovery of methylation sites that could have diagnostic
value.
About Genetron Holdings Limited
Genetron Holdings Limited (“Genetron Health” or the “Company”)
(Nasdaq:GTH) is a leading precision oncology platform company in
China that specializes in cancer molecular profiling and harnesses
advanced technologies in molecular biology and data science to
transform cancer treatment. The Company has developed a
comprehensive oncology portfolio that covers the entire spectrum of
cancer management, addressing needs and challenges from early
screening, diagnosis and treatment recommendations, as well as
continuous disease monitoring and care. Genetron Health also
partners with global biopharmaceutical companies and offers
customized services and products. For more information, please
visit ir.genetronhealth.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that
are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s
plans, strategies and timelines to develop personalized MRD tests
for solid tumors in China with AstraZeneca R&D China, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking
statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”,
“will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,”
“intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are
likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information
regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is
included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information
provided in this press release is as of the date of this press
release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such
information, except as required under applicable law.
Investor Relations ContactHoki LukEmail:
hoki.luk@genetronhealth.comPhone: +1 (408) 891-9255
Media Relations ContactYanrong ZhaoGenetron HealthEmail:
yanrong.zhao@genetronhealth.com
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