DxS' colon cancer companion diagnostic approved in Canada
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
DxS has received approval from Health Canada to use its TheraScreen K-RAS test as a companion diagnostic for Amgen's colorectal cancer drug, Vectibix (panitumumab). The drug, an EGFR inhibitor, is only effective in patients with a non-mutated KRAS gene – around 60% of the population. The test has also received Canadian approval as a diagnostic for other anti-EGFR therapies. Roche Diagnostics will distribute the test there from August, under an agreement signed by the two companies last year (see Clinica No 1309, p 13). Manchester, UK-based DxS CE marked the diagnostic for sale in Europe in December 2007, and launched it in Australia in July 2008, where it is also distributed by Roche.