Low invasive blood-based molecular diagnostic testing breakthrough in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

Biocartis Group NV announces the launch of two CE-marked IVD liquid biopsy tests, the Idylla ctKRAS Mutation Test and the Idylla ctNRAS-BRAF Mutation Test. The Idylla ctKRAS Mutation Test and the Idylla ctNRAS-BRAF Mutation Test are Biocartis’ first CE marked liquid biopsy tests for in vitro diagnostic use in detecting RAS and BRAF mutations in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Developed under the partnership with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, the launch of these two tests marks an important milestone of the collaboration, which is aimed at improving access to easy, rapid and low invasive blood-based molecular diagnostic testing for patients with mCRC. Both companies will now collaborate to make the tests commercially available to medical centers.

Comment: The company sees the development of liquid biopsy tests as a key part of its growth strategy, allowing it to broaden access to molecular diagnostics by allowing analysis to be carried out on blood samples rather than surgical biopsies. Biocartis Group has formed a partnership with U.K. medical research charity MRC Technology to develop a liquid biopsy test that will be used to monitor metastatic breast cancer patients for resistance to hormone therapy.