Thermo Fisher Scientific and NCI Team up To Advance New Treatments

In order to expedite research on new remedies for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a global leader in serving science, is teaming up with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) – a division of the National Institutes of Health – on the myeloMATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) precision medicine umbrella trial. Through the utilization of Thermo Fisher's next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, clinical sites can expedite the process of matching patients with suitable clinical trials by examining genetic biomarkers in their bone marrow and blood to target specific mutations found in the samples.

The goal of the research is to conduct genomic testing efficiently and provide comprehensive results in a timely manner across different testing methods in order to promptly enroll patients in particular sub-studies according to their biomarker profile upon diagnosis. Being the initial NGS solution that handles the entire workflow from specimen to report and provides results in one day with only two user interactions, the Ion Torrent Genexus System will speed up the process of pairing patients with suitable clinical trials.

myeloMATCH will be available at the NCI National Clinical Trials Network sites in the US and Canada, which consist of over 2,200 sites. Additionally, the NCI's Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis has established collaborative research and development partnerships with numerous pharmaceutical companies to supply various medications in support of myeloMATCH. By carrying out various treatment sub-studies tailored to genomic types, myeloMATCH could support the advancement of potential new treatments.