Insight Genetics (Nashville, Tenn.) has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to continue the development of a test intended to better direct therapies at patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The grant was made as part of NCI’s companion diagnostics development program. It will be used for Insight to continue development of its ALK Resistance assay. The test, which was developed by St. Jude Children’s Research, detects all mutations promoting treatment resistance in anaplastic lymphoma kinase, one of the genetic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer. It is offered through the Insight Molecular Lab division, primarily to assist in the selection of patients for clinical trials involving ALK inhibitors. Although such cancers may initially respond to forms of treatment that inhibit ALK, ongoing mutations mean that such medications are usually rendered therapeutically useless within a year. That prompts oncologists to look for other medications to treat the patient, but diagnostics are often required to determine which regimen would work the best. “Resistance is a growing concern in the cancer treatment world,” said Eric Dalhauser, Insight’s chief executive officer. “The Insight ALK Resistance assay meets a significant unmet need in . . . lung cancer by […]
Insight Genetics (Nashville, Tenn.) has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to continue the development of a test intended to better direct therapies at patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
The grant was made as part of NCI’s companion diagnostics development program. It will be used for Insight to continue development of its ALK Resistance assay. The test, which was developed by St. Jude Children’s Research, detects all mutations promoting treatment resistance in anaplastic lymphoma kinase, one of the genetic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer. It is offered through the Insight Molecular Lab division, primarily to assist in the selection of patients for clinical trials involving ALK inhibitors.
Although such cancers may initially respond to forms of treatment that inhibit ALK, ongoing mutations mean that such medications are usually rendered therapeutically useless within a year. That prompts oncologists to look for other medications to treat the patient, but diagnostics are often required to determine which regimen would work the best.
“Resistance is a growing concern in the cancer treatment world,” said Eric Dalhauser, Insight’s chief executive officer. “The Insight ALK Resistance assay meets a significant unmet need in . . . lung cancer by giving physicians a way to monitor their patients for drug resistance and providing information to help them determine the most effective course of treatment.”
According to company officials, the test requires minimal biopsied material and has a turnaround time of 48 hours.
The grant is the sixth to Insight from NCI. The company said it would use the funds to further the test toward a premarket approval application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Takeaway: The National Cancer Institute is continuing to invest millions of dollars to develop companion diagnostics to further refine and improve oncology care.
