Illumina Announces Strategic Collaboration with Merck Serono to Expand Companion Diagnostics for Oncology
March 10 2015 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced it has formed a
collaboration with Merck Serono, the biopharmaceuticals business of
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to develop a universal
next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based oncology diagnostic. In
addition to separate collaborations with AstraZeneca, Janssen
Biotech, Inc., and Sanofi, Illumina and Merck Serono will work to
create a universal test system for clinical trials of targeted
cancer therapies, with the goal of a more comprehensive tool for
precision medicine.
Illumina is working with Merck Serono to develop assays that
detect and measure multiple variants simultaneously to support
clinical trials. The collaboration toward the universal cancer test
will include test development, worldwide regulatory approvals, and
global commercialization. In parallel, Illumina continues to
collaborate with the key thought leaders of the Actionable Genome
Consortium to set standards for NGS-based assays in routine
clinical oncology practice, as well as to define regulatory
frameworks to enable this new testing paradigm.
“Our collaboration with Illumina around next-generation
sequencing will enable us to perform genome studies at a pace
unheard of a few years ago, and could lead to the development of
several diagnostics,” said Susan Herbert, Head of Global Business
Development at Merck Serono. “This collaboration will strengthen
the position of Merck Serono as a global leader in precision
medicine in oncology.”
“This agreement is another step forward in realizing the promise
of precision medicine,” said Richard Klausner, MD, Illumina’s Chief
Medical Officer. “The US government’s Precision Medicine
Initiative, recently announced by President Obama, specifically
outlines the need to expand genetically-based clinical trials as a
key approach for developing better treatments for cancer. We are
very excited to work with Merck Serono on this endeavor.”
For more information, visit
www.illumina.com/precisionmedicine.
About Illumina
Illumina is transforming human health as the global leader in
sequencing and array-based technologies. The company serves
customers in a broad range of markets, enabling the adoption of
genomic solutions in research and clinical settings. To learn how
Illumina is unlocking the power of the genome, visit
www.illumina.com and follow us @illumina.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking
statements are detailed in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including our most recent filings on Forms
10-K and 10-Q, or in information disclosed in public conference
calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We do
not intend to update any forward-looking statements after the date
of this release.
Illumina, Inc.Investors:Rebecca
Chambers858-255-5243rchambers@illumina.comorMedia:Jennifer
Temple858-882-6822pr@illumina.com
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