Genomic Health announced has entered a multi-year agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to evaluate its genomic expression test intended to aid in the treatment of recently diagnosed and low-risk prostate cancer patients.
As part of the agreement, Genomic Health will test samples from Janssen studies to examine how well Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) test results match clinical outcomes.
The GPS test, one of several such tests in the company’s pipeline, is a genomic assay designed for men with clinically low-risk prostate cancer to help in making treatment decisions soon after diagnosis. The test analyzes the activity of certain prostate cancer genes to predict disease aggressiveness and potential for tumor spread.
It examines interactions among genes in the tumor to better understand the particular biology of each cancer — an approach known as “genomics” — to provide information to patients.
Essentially, the test studies a tumor biology through the expression of 17 genes across four genetic pathways and, together with clinical risk factors, predicts the likelihood of adverse pathology on a scale from 0 to 100.
“Janssen is a recognized leader in oncology and their selection of the Oncotype DX GPS test reflects the best-in-class value that it delivers in stratifying patient risk and may reveal potential for guiding treatment selection for prostate cancer patients in the future,” Phil Febbo, chief medical officer at Genomic Health, said in a press release.
In related news, Genomic Health also announced that it has invested $4 million in Biocartis to support the development of an in vitro diagnostic version of the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test on the Idylla platform, which can be performed locally by laboratories and hospitals worldwide. This test works for breast cancer patients much like the prostate cancer test.
The GPS test for prostate cancer was developed based on multiple collaborative studies with the Cleveland Clinic, and validated in subsequent studies, Genomic Health reports on a webpage for the test.