Biocartis launches second liquid biopsy assay

Biocartis Group NV has launched its second liquid biopsy assay, the Idylla ctKRAS Mutation Assay, which was developed in partnership with the leading science and technology company Merck on Biocartis` molecular diagnostics platform Idylla.

Earlier this year, on 7 January 2016, Biocartis and Merck announced a partnership to jointly develop and commercialize new liquid biopsy RAS biomarker tests for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Access to rapid and easy-to-use molecular diagnostic tests is essential to understand individual cancer-driving gene mutations in mCRC, opening doors to timely cancer treatment decision-making. Liquid biopsy-based testing demonstrates clear benefits as it, contrary to tumor tissue-based testing, is minimally invasive, fast and easy to perform and an attractive approach when limited or no tissue is available.

The new Idylla ctKRAS Mutation Assay  is a fully automated sample-to-result assay that operates directly on 1 ml of blood plasma. The assay is intended for the qualitative and sensitive detection of 21 KRAS mutations, with less than 1 minute of hands-on time and a turnaround time of approx. 130 minutes.

The newly launched Idylla ctKRAS Mutation Assay further supports Biocartis` colorectal cancer test offering, today consisting of the tissue-based Idylla KRAS Mutation Test (CE-marked IVD test) and the Idylla NRAS-BRAF-EGFR S492R Mutation Assay , both operating directly from a slice of FFPE tumor tissue. The Biocartis partnership with Merck also comprises the development of a second liquid biopsy test addressing NRAS and BRAF mutations to complete liquid biopsy ctRAS testing coverage in mCRC. The Idylla ctNRAS-BRAF Mutation Assay  is expected in the first quarter of 2017.

Erwin Sablon, Head of R&D and Alliance Management Biocartis, said: “Thanks to our partnership with Merck, Biocartis is able to offer its first liquid biopsy assay for KRAS mutation testing, operating directly on blood plasma. We are excited about the potential of this and future liquid biopsy assays, where research has shown in the past years that circulating tumor DNA can be used for disease monitoring in patients undergoing treatment.”

Biocartis expects to launch with Merck Idylla ctRAS tests in the second half of 2017. Once these have been validated for diagnostic use, the tests will be implemented in numerous medical centers across the world (excluding the U.S., China and Japan) for which currently discussions are ongoing in several European countries, the Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and Latin-America.