The Precision Medicine Practice Gaps Economic, Policy and Operational Solutions Forum was established in 2023 to progress research undertaken by Diaceutics and The Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) which highlighted that 64.4% of a NSCLC patients in the US may not receive the best treatment for their disease. The globally recognised publication “The Impact of Clinical Practice Gaps on the Implementation of Personalized Medicine in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer” published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology Precision Oncology(JCO) in 2022, identified 7 Clinical Practice Gaps limiting patient access to precision medicine.

In reaction to this critical finding, The Forum was established to urgently address the specific economic gaps limiting the advancement of precision medicine andto enable every patient to get the treatment they deserve.

Co-chaired by Susanne Munksted, Chief Precision Medicine Officer at Diaceutics, and Denny Van Liew, Board Member Emeritus at the PMC and veteran Solution Architect and Life Sciences Senior Advisor at Red Nucleus, The Forum is composed of leading experts in precision medicine across multiple stakeholders, each bringing extensive experience and insights from their careers. The shared aim is to provide the industry and policy makers with valuable and clear economic guidance and recommendations to overcome the challenges obstructing the advancement of precision medicine.

The solutions and recommendations proposed by the Forum will be shared and opened for discussion at a virtual global summit this May 1st. The highly anticipated summit provides a unique opportunity for all members of the precision medicine community to contribute to the culminating white paper recommendations and play a role in shaping the future of precision medicine.

The Personalized Medicine Coalition has been a core partner both within the Clinical Practical Gaps research and The Precision Medicine Practice Gaps Economic, Policy and Operational Solutions Forum bringing strategic guidance.

“The technologies, clinical practices, and financial incentives needed to successfully deliver high-quality health care in the era of personalised medicine differ substantially in comparison to what was needed during decades characterised by less sophisticated approaches.” 

said Daryl Pritchard, PMC’s Senior Vice President, Science Policy.

“If the economic challenges providers face in adopting personalised medicine are left unaddressed, patients will suffer as high-value personalised medicine technologies will needlessly be left on the shelf.”

Sarah Hersey, Vice President of Precision Medicine at Bristol-Myers Squibb and member of the Forum, expressed,

"This forum will serve as a healthy discourse to address the root complexities surrounding precision medicine and economic barriers. Together, the precision medicine community can identify possible solutions to close the clinical care gaps and help increase access to effective treatments for patients in need." 

Susanne reflects on the collective experience across the Forum members and shared patient-focused motivation,

“Those of us operating in precision medicine have been aware of the stealthy influence which economics have had on patient testing in precision medicine. This has not always been for the better. Revisiting the 2022 Clinical Practice Gaps research with a deeper focus on the economic barriers preventing patients receiving optimized targeted treatments has brought insightful discussion amongst the Forum members. It was rewarding to see how informed we all were on the real-world issues and how aligned we could be on the potential solutions to positively impact patients.”

“The passion amongst the Forum members demonstrates there is ambition to overcome the economic challenges which exist and support the wider precision medicine industry by providing practical recommendations and guidance on future policy development. I welcome everyone across precision medicine to join the discussion in May and to offer their input into this important paper.”

The summit is already drawing attention from key industry leaders and influencers with a growing agenda of speakers and confirmed delegates. Secure your place and join the discussion.

The summit is free to attend and open to all. 

https://www.labroots.com/ms/virtual-event/precision-medicine-practice-gaps-economic-policy-operational-solutions-global-summit

Diaceutics PLC announce an open invitation to all stakeholders in precision medicine to join a landmark collaboration to address the economic barriers preventing patient access to life-changing precision medicines.

Liquid biopsy, as the name suggests, involves the analysis of patient body fluids, primarily blood, to detect biomarkers that can provide valuable insights into disease progression, prognosis, and treatment options. This non-invasive approach has emerged as a game-changer in the world of cancer diagnostics, complementing traditional tissue biopsies.

Liquid biopsy's impact is perhaps most striking in the realm of NSCLC. It has played a pivotal role in identifying specific resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies. NSCLC patients who undergo liquid biopsy testing can benefit from:

- Early Detection of Resistance: Liquid biopsy can identify resistance mutations early in the treatment process, allowing for prompt therapeutic adjustments.

- Improved Treatment Outcomes: By pinpointing resistance mechanisms, physicians can select alternative treatment options, increasing the chances of successful outcomes.

While initially prominent in NSCLC, liquid biopsy is now extending its reach to other cancer types, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Its non-invasive nature and ability to provide comprehensive genetic information make it a valuable tool in these areas as well.

Haemato- Oncology and Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)

In addition to solid tumours, liquid biopsy has made significant strides in the field of haemato-oncology. It is particularly invaluable in detecting minimal residual disease (MRD), which refers to the small number of cancer cells that may remain in the body after treatment. Liquid biopsy offers a highly sensitive method for tracking MRD, allowing for more precise monitoring and treatment adjustments.

In recognition of the transformative power of liquid biopsy in precision medicine diagnostics, we are excited to announce the launch of Diaceutics LBx Month. This initiative is designed to complement Lung Cancer Awareness Month and raise awareness about the importance of diagnostic testing in cancer care. Throughout this month, we will host a range of events, webinars, and educational sessions to highlight the advancements in liquid biopsy technology and its role in improving patient outcomes.

As we at Diaceutics celebrate international lung cancer awareness this month, let us also celebrate the remarkable progress in cancer diagnostics and treatment brought about by liquid biopsy. This non-invasive method has expanded beyond NSCLC and is now a cornerstone of precision medicine across various cancer types. With the ongoing advancements in this field, the future of cancer care is brighter than ever, offering patients hope and personalised treatment options like never before. To raise awareness of this month, Diaceutics are providing a range of events and materials to promote liquid biopsy and it’s benefits to cancer patients. Please click the link below to find out more about some of the exciting events scheduled to celebrate liquid biopsy.

Find out more

For more information, visit our DXRX platforms and social media channels to be kept up to date with upcoming liquid biopsy events.

In this month of international lung cancer awareness, Diaceutics would like to shed light on the remarkable impact of diagnostic testing on the cancer patient journey. One of the pivotal advancements in this field is the progressive use of liquid biopsy (LBx), a non-invasive and innovative method that has revolutionised precision medicine diagnostics. Liquid biopsy is changing the landscape of cancer diagnosis and treatment, particularly in the context of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and its expanding applications in other areas such as breast, ovarian, prostate, and colorectal cancer.

Watch the recording now

- Detection of molecular residual disease (MRD) in circulating DNA

Marc G. Denis is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Nantes University Hospital (France). He received a Pharm D degree in Nantes in 1984 and a PhD degree in Medical Sciences from the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm University, Sweden) in 1989.

He is now head of the Department of Biology, Nantes University Hospital, and conducts his research projects in INSERM unit 1307 (Nantes - Angers Cancer and Immunology Research Center).

Pr Denis is also in charge of the local platform for tumor molecular biology, funded by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). He is particularly involved in molecular testing of lung tumors. Current effort is focused on tumor characterization, evaluation of kits for molecular testing and detection of molecular alterations in circulating DNA.

Marc G. Denis is member of the American Association for Cancer Research, of the European Society for Medical Oncology, and of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He has authored over 150 publications in peer-reviewed international journals.

To be included in all the upcoming LabTalks in the Liquid Biopsy series and receive exclusive access to the recordings of previous Liquid Biopsy LabTalks, sign up here.

Sign up to the full series

Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for localized cancers, but some patients have local recurrence or distant metastases after surgery. Currently, prognostic stratifications are based on clinicopathologic parameters.

The detection of molecular residual disease (MRD), based on the detection of genomic alterations in circulating DNA, could make it possible to assess the risk of recurrence before its identification by imaging, and thus to adapt the treatment strategy to optimize patient survival and quality of life in a standard care setting.

The promising data obtained for colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer will be presented and discussed.

Monday 22nd May 2023  /  2:30pm - 4:00pm CET.

During this webinar, we had the opportunity to have the clinician’s visions and an overview on the different HRD solutions available (academic and commercial) realized by two experts in molecular biologist.

This event was moderated by the Prof. Pascal Pujol who is the President of the SFMPP and who is working with an European expert group on a proposal European HRD testing joint consensus.

HRD general introduction: where are we now?

All participants (moderated by Prof. Pascal Pujol) - 

Prof. Alexandre Harlé and Prof. Diether Lambrechts - 

University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

Prof. Pascal Pujol is Professor of Medicine at the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine and President of the French Society of Predictive and Personalized Medicine. He heads the department of Cancer and Genetics at the University Hospital of Montpellier. 

He is co-author of more than 200 publications. He conducts research work atCNRS and has coordinated severalphase III/IV clinical trials. 

Prof. Ray-Coquard obtained her medical degree in 1997 specializing in oncology. In 2003 she received her PhD from the Université Claude Bernard for her research on the independents factors that determine medical practices in oncology. She also received Master’s degrees in in statistics in 1995 and in medical economy in 1996. From 2008 to 2013, she has served as Chairman of the gynaecologic group for clinical trials of the French National Cancer Institute (INCA) and she is currently the Network Director of the national network dedicated to diagnosis and management of the rare gynecological cancer (www.ovaire-rare.org), a network funded by the INCA commission. 

Prof. Alexandre Harlé obtained a PhD in Pharmacy and a PhD in molecular biology from the Nancy University. Prof. Alexandre Harléis PU-PH and work as Pharmacist-biologist on the INCaplatform in the Biopathology department ICL/CHRU of Nancy. Alexandre is specialized in the solid tumours analysis and started working on theHomologous recombination repair deficienciesin different cancer types, as well on paraffin-embedded tissues than in liquid biopsy.

VIB Center for Cancer Biology and University of Leuven, Belgium

Prof. Diether Lambrechts is Group Leader at the VIB and Professor at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Prof. Lambrechts was trained as an engineer at the University of Leuven where he also pursued his PhD. He then worked at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford, UK, before joining the VIB as an independent Group Leader in 2008. He has won several awards: the Karel-Lodewijk Award for Human Medicine; the Galenus Prize for Pharmacology; the AstraZeneca Award for Translational Research and the Agilent Thought Leadership Award.

Homologous recombination repair deficiency (HRD) is a frequent feature of high-grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal carcinoma (HGSC) and is associated with sensitivity to PARP inhibitor (PARPi) therapy. Currently, numerous methods of HRD detection exist but understanding the different ways to measure HRD and discuss their respective validation level is important for their appropriate use in clinical practice.

Insights

Multi-Stakeholder Group Bring a unique economic solution to the Clinical Practice Gaps holding back Precision Medicine

The Transformative Role of Liquid Biopsy in Precision Medicine Diagnostics

The Liquid Biopsy Series: Detection of molecular residual disease in circulating DNA

HRD in clinical practice: where are we now?