Biocartis Group NV: Study using Biocartis' liquid biopsy BRAF assay shows new option for retreatment of melanoma patients
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
PRESS RELEASE: 9 March 2017, 07:00 CET
Study using Biocartis' liquid biopsy BRAF assay shows new option for retreatment
of melanoma patients
Study and editorial 'A second chance for success with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in
Melanoma' published in renowned clinical journal The Lancet Oncology
Mechelen, Belgium, 9 March 2017 - Biocartis Group NV ('Biocartis' or 'the
Company'), an innovative molecular diagnostics company (Euronext Brussels:
BCART), today announces the publication in the renowned clinical oncology
journal The Lancet Oncology of an important study[1] by Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns
from the University Hospital in Brussels (Belgium). In this study, advanced
metastatic melanoma cancer patients that had become resistant to their BRAF-
targeted treatment were successfully given a retreatment with that same therapy
following a three months pause after resistance confirmation. This is an
important finding that could lead to more routine use of retreatment, especially
for patients where no effective standard treatment is available. Biocartis'
liquid biopsy test, the Idylla(TM) ctBRAF Mutation Assay (RUO[2]), was used in
this study for the monitoring of the mutational status.
It often happens that patients with advanced melanoma become resistant to their
treatments after some time. As a result, some patients can be left without a
direct alternative treatment. The close monitoring of cancer treatment
effectiveness is therefore essential. Liquid biopsy tests operating on blood
plasma with the aim to detect circulating tumor DNA in the blood stream, can be
an easy and less invasive monitoring tool for these patients, as demonstrated in
the recent clinical study[3] by Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns, Head of Medical Oncology
at the University Hospital Brussels (Belgium).
The study, which was published in the renowned clinical journal The Lancet
Oncology, included 25 patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma[4] who had
become resistant to their treatments[5]. Rechallenging these patients, who
previously progressed on BRAF plus MEK inhibition and were off-therapy for at
least 12 weeks, with the same combination therapy, showed to be potentially
effective and as such represents a potential new treatment option for these
patients. The Biocartis' Idylla(TM) ctBRAF Mutation Assay[6] was used to monitor
the BRAFV600 mutations of the patients included in the study.
Prof. Dr. Bart Neyns, Head of Medical Oncology at the University Hospital
Brussels (Belgium), reacted: "This is an important finding, as these results
show that we can restart treatment with reasonable chance of success in cases
where we do not have an effective standard treatment."
Geert Maertens, Chief Scientific Officer of Biocartis, commented: "The study of
Prof. Neyns shows for the first time that interruption after progression can
restore sensitivity to a targeted therapy. In the study, Biocartis' Idylla(TM)
ctBRAF Mutation Assay(2) has been instrumental in identifying patients
benefiting from such retreatment. This clearly demonstrates the potential of our
liquid biopsy test for use in high precision patient management."
More info on the study can be found on the website of The Lancet Oncology.
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More information:
Renate Degrave
Manager Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
e-mail rdegrave(at)biocartis.com
tel +32 15 631 729
mobile +32 471 53 60 64
About liquid biopsy testing
Research over the last few years has shown that fragments of tumor DNA are shed
into the blood from primary tumors or metastatic sites[7]. These circulating DNA
fragments can be used for diagnostic purposes, such as providing molecular
information for treatment selection, or for monitoring disease progression in
patients undergoing treatment. According to J.P. Morgan, the global market of
liquid biopsy tests is estimated to reach $20 billion by 2020.
About Biocartis
Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) is an innovative molecular diagnostics
(MDx) company providing next generation diagnostic solutions aimed at improving
clinical practice for the benefit of patients, clinicians, payers and industry.
Biocartis' proprietary MDx Idylla(TM) platform is a fully automated sample-to-
result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) system that offers accurate,
highly reliable molecular information from virtually any biological sample in
virtually any setting. Biocartis launched the Idylla(TM) platform in September
2014. Biocartis is developing and marketing a rapidly expanding test menu
addressing key unmet clinical needs in oncology and infectious diseases. These
areas represent respectively the fastest growing and largest segments of the MDx
market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers eight oncology tests and two
infectious disease tests. More information: www.biocartis.com. Press Photo
Library available here. Follow us on Twitter: (at)Biocartis_.
Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-
looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors'
current expectations and projections concerning future events such as the
Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance,
prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. By
their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-
looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could
adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events
described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes
in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or
results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-
looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or
activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a
representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In
addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or
developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods.
As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press
release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events,
conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking
statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives
nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or
employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking
statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for
the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date of this press release.
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[1] Schreuer et al., 'Combination of dabrafenib plus trametinib for BRAF and MEK
inhibitor pretreated patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma: an open-
label, single arm, dual-centre, phase 2 clinical trial', The Lancet Oncology
2017, published online 3 March 2017.
[2] Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures.
[3] Combi-Rechallenge: NCT02296996. The study was performed among 25 patients of
18 years and older with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma.
[4] All patients were aged 18 years or older, with BRAFV600-mutant melanoma who
had previously progressed on BRAF inhibitors (with or without MEK inhibitors)
and were off-treatment for at least 12 weeks, were treated with dabrafenib 150
mg orally twice per day plus trametinib 2 mg orally once per day.
[5] It concerns treatments with dabrafenib and/or trametinib (Tafinlar(TM) and
Mekinist(TM), both products marketed by Novartis).
[6] The Idylla(TM) ctBRAF Mutation Assay is a Research Use Only assay, not for
use in diagnostic procedures.
[7] Diaz and Bardelli, Liquid Biopsies: Genotyping Circulating Tumor DNA. J clin
Oncol (2014) 32: 579-586.
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Biocartis Group NV via GlobeNewswire
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 09.03.2017 - 07:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 529134
Anzahl Zeichen: 10204
contact information:
Town:
Mechelen
Kategorie:
Business News
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