SOPHiA GENETICS, a cloud-native healthcare technology company leading in data-driven medicine, and AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical giant, have joined forces to significantly expand access to liquid biopsy testing. This partnership marks a major milestone in the global introduction of the innovative liquid biopsy test MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM, first announced in October 2023.
The partnership will see the deployment of MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM in 20 locations across the globe over the next year. Liquid biopsies offer a less invasive alternative to traditional biopsies, which can be challenging due to factors like insufficient or low-quality tissue. By isolating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from blood plasma to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), this innovative testing method simplifies patient monitoring and empowers clinicians to make quicker and more informed treatment decisions.
MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM is a decentralized version of the highly validated liquid biopsy test developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), a renowned cancer treatment and research institution. This solution leverages the advanced analytics, cutting-edge algorithms, and cloud-based capabilities of the SOPHiA DDMTM Platform, combined with MSK’s expertise in cancer genomics, to deliver a top-tier liquid biopsy solution.
This collaboration aims to understand how liquid biopsy testing can complement solid tissue testing and potentially provide greater benefits for laboratories and patients. By increasing the availability of MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM, the companies hope to support the case for its widespread global adoption. Moreover, a dedicated real-world evidence study will evaluate the operational benefits of liquid biopsy testing, focusing on the speed of results and the consistent generation of high-quality data across various laboratory settings.
“Our partnership with AstraZeneca has the potential to dramatically accelerate global access to liquid biopsy testing, especially in underserved populations, which in turn could contribute to reshaping diagnostics, treatment, and monitoring of cancer cases throughout the world. Their support is instrumental to making this improved access a reality,” said Philippe Menu, M.D., Ph.D, Chief Medical and Chief Product Officer, SOPHiA GENETICS. “Additionally, the breadth and depth of real-world data that we will generate through the implementation of this decentralized liquid biopsy testing platform on a global scale will be unprecedented, providing novel avenues to accelerating cancer research.”
Since its launch in April 2024, MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM has garnered significant interest from leading healthcare institutions worldwide, with 14 already piloting and adopting the application. These institutions include prestigious cancer centers and reference laboratories such as BioReference® and Tennessee Oncology in the U.S., Oncohelix in Canada, Dasa in Brazil, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg in Germany, Stavanger University Hospital in Norway, IUCT Oncopole in France, Synnovis and South West Genomic Laboratory Hub in the U.K., Sofiva Genomics in Taiwan, Syndicate Bio in Nigeria, A.O.U. Senese in Italy, and Karkinos Healthcare and Strand Life Sciences in India.
The partnership with AstraZeneca will further fuel the adoption of MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM, creating a ripple effect across hospitals and labs. As routine use becomes more widespread, SOPHiA GENETICS and AstraZeneca, in collaboration with leading cancer institutes within the SOPHiA GENETICS community, will generate an extensive real-world data set from patients around the world with a variety of cancers. This data has the potential to unlock invaluable insights, paving the way for advancements in cancer research and drug development.
“We are deeply committed to bringing liquid biopsy expertise to labs and institutions throughout the globe at an expedited pace, and are confident this rollout will further support access to testing and aid in providing data-driven treatment options to patients around the world,” said Kristina Rodnikova, Head of Global Oncology Diagnostics, AstraZeneca.
The deployment of MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDMTM, initially announced in October 2023, is a testament to the collaborative spirit between SOPHiA GENETICS, AstraZeneca, and MSK. Together, these three entities are working tirelessly to combat global health inequities and propel cancer research forward.
