VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Contextual Genomics Inc., a leading cancer genomics company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a contribution agreement with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) for up to $500,000.
The funding will support the development and validation of a newer expanded version of Contextual’s FIND IT™ somatic cancer hot spot assay, which incorporates the current, most clinically relevant actionable mutations. It will also support the development and validation of Contextual’s FOLLOW IT™ assay, which tracks cancer-related DNA mutations serially over time in blood samples allowing treatment optimization based on changes in cancer.
Contextual Genomics has developed FIND IT™, a proprietary molecular hotspot assay that screens for more than 140 somatic genome alterations found in solid tumour cancers to identify optimal therapeutic treatments and recognize acquired drug resistant mutations, making it possible for doctors to customize therapies with greater precision for cancer patients. The FIND IT™ assay, supported by Contextual Genomics’ innovative, cloud-based analysis engine, also helps to determine prognostic and diagnostic implications for patient care.
Contextual Genomics is also developing FOLLOW IT™, a proprietary mutation detection liquid biopsy assay that screens for cell-free circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in plasma. FOLLOW IT™ will be deployed for patients with widespread metastatic disease at diagnosis and for use as a time series monitoring tool to read out tumour burden and treatment resistance. FOLLOW IT™ will screen for all of the same somatic genome alterations as FIND IT™ and can be used to follow disease progression for patients, including those whose tumours were initially tested with FIND IT™.
The NRC IRAP has previously provided financial support to Contextual Genomics for the company’s QUALITY NEXUS™ quality control system, embedded into all FIND IT™ and FOLLOW IT™ assays and into Contextual Genomics’ cloud-based analysis engine.
Chris Wagner, Contextual Genomics’ Executive Chairman, said “We are very excited to again work with NRC IRAP. Their support will allow our company to continue developing important products, including FIND IT™ and FOLLOW IT™, for Canadians impacted by cancer and for the worldwide cancer community.”
About Contextual’s Products:
The FIND IT™ and FOLLOW IT™ cancer panels are multiplex, next-generation sequencing genomic assays designed for rapid deployment into labs around the world. Both FIND IT™ and FOLLOW IT™ evaluate the mutation status of tumour DNA (FIND IT™ for solid tumours; FOLLOW IT™ for cell-free circulating tumour DNA in plasma) at 140 well-characterized positions, identifying the somatic mutations that have the greatest potential to impact treatment decisions. QUALITY NEXUS™ is a quality control system embedded into all FIND IT™ and FOLLOW IT™ assays and into Contextual Genomics’ cloud-based analysis engine. FIND IT™ and FOLLOW IT™ physician reports provide clear information on test interpretation and linkages to current therapeutic options.
About Contextual Genomics (www.contextualgenomics.com):
Contextual Genomics has developed cost-effective and clinically actionable molecular tests that guide diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These customized tests are offered by our partner laboratories around the world with Contextual conducting cloud-based bioinformatics services via a SaaS model. The collection of data via this robust network of partners and the use of machine-learning tools allows Contextual Genomics to improve patient care through improved clinical trial enrolment and new treatment algorithms. Contextual Genomics is founded and managed by global leaders in cancer medicine and bioinformatics, who have unparalleled expertise in cancer genomics and the clonal evolution of cancer.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are not based on historical fact. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
