Study offers a differentiated patient-specific solution in minimal residual disease testing

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Jan 15 2021

Exact Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: EXAS) today announced that it has acquired a worldwide exclusive license to the proprietary TARDIS technology from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope. This compelling and technically distinct approach will help expand Exact Sciences' leadership in precision oncology and offers a differentiated patient-specific solution in minimal residual disease testing.

Analysis of DNA shed into a patient's blood stream can provide a noninvasive means of detecting the presence of a tumor. Patients who have undergone initial treatment may only have small amounts of tumor DNA in their blood, which can be difficult to detect with conventional technology. TARDIS was developed to be highly sensitive and customizable for each patient, including those with only a trace amount of tumor remaining following surgery or other localized treatment that is undetectable by imaging.i

"Exact Sciences is uniquely positioned to lead cancer diagnostics with our broad foundation and the talented team that created Cologuard® and Oncotype DX®," said Kevin Conroy, chairman and CEO of Exact Sciences. "We're excited to work with TGen and City of hope to bring the incredible TARDIS technology to physicians and patients and deliver a better solution in minimal residual disease to improve cancer patient outcomes."

In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, TARDIS demonstrated high accuracy in assessing molecular response and residual disease during neoadjuvant therapy to treat breast cancer. TARDIS achieved up to 100-fold improvement beyond the current limit of circulating tumor DNA detection.i

Blood-based diagnostics are critical to the future of cancer care, and licensing TARDIS to an industry leader like Exact Sciences speaks volumes about its potential to positively impact the field. The scale and reach Exact Sciences brings to the market means greater access -- and new hope -- for patients faced with a cancer diagnosis."

Jeffrey M. Trent, Ph.D., President, Research Director, The Translational Genomics Research Institute

TGen became a part of City of Hope in 2016 to accelerate the speed at which scientists and medical staff convert research discoveries into cures for patients. City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, making it a national leader in advancing research and treatment protocols.

"We are proud of the innovation driven by TGen in the development of TARDIS technology and are excited about the licensing agreement with Exact Sciences as its leadership in screening and diagnostics combined with this novel approach will address a very important clinical challenge in cancer care," said Robert Stone, president and CEO, City of Hope. "This is another example of City of Hope working with a leading organization around a joint vision to develop truly world-class solutions to transform the treatment of cancer patients."