Monogram's new HER assays available for clinical trials
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Monogram Biosciences has launched two assays for use in clinical trials of cancer drugs, including those for breast cancer. The first quantifies levels of the HER2:HER3 heterodimer, while the second analyses HER3:PI3K, an associated downstream complex. An assay for p95, a truncated form of HER2, is in "advanced development". The San Francisco, California firm launched its HER2 assay, HERmark, in the US in July (see Clinica No 1315, p 17). This identifies patients who will respond to HER2-targeting therapies like Roche's Herceptin (trastuzumab). Herceptin inhibition could be mediated by the PI3K pathway, and PI3K signalling could also be implicated in other cancers. Earlier this month, UK firm DxS launched its PIK3CA gene test for use in cancer clinical trials (see Clinica No 1327, p 29).