Philips and molecular diagnostics interpretation company N-of-One are joining forces to boost the former’s precision medicine platform for oncology. The collaboration will focus on clinical analysis, annotation and interpretation of cancer cases.
The genomic profiling of tumors is essential in the treatment of complex cancer cases, but quickly and accurately interpreting genomic data for individual patients’ specific conditions remains a challenge, Philips said in a statement. Out of the thousands of genetic variants and mutations that a cancer patient may have, only a few will have “actionable therapeutic implications” for that patient.
Philips’ IntelliSpace Genomics platform processes and integrates genomic information from a number of sources. Philips will augment the platform with N-of-One’s database of variants. Access to this database opens up a “vast amount” of literature, guidelines and evidence to clinicians, helping them determine quickly and easily which treatments or clinical trials will best fit a particular patient.
“N-of-One has been a pioneer in the field, and by integrating their information directly on our IntelliSpace Genomics solution, we aim to reduce the turnaround time for these cancer cases,” said Louis Culot, general manager of Philips Genomics, in the statement. “Providing specialists with the most relevant treatment options through the analysis of each patient’s unique molecular profile will help extend the reach and scale of personalized medicine.”
N-of-One has partnered with several entities this year, including a tie-up with med fusion on genomic data interpretation for blood cancers and a collaboration with Inivata to identify clinical trial opportunities and potential treatments for cancer patients based on Inivata’s liquid biopsy analysis. And Inova Schar Cancer Institute tapped N-of-One to support its launch of a molecular tumor board.