Personal Genome Diagnostics (PGDx) has partnered with Japan-based Eisai to develop a liquid biopsy biomarker discovery tool. 

As part of the collaboration, the group will create a kitted next-generation sequencing technology that will allow researchers and biopharma companies to conduct biomarker discovery work on patient blood samples collected during clinical trials.

Using DNA isolated from blood samples, the automated NGS technology will identify somatic alterations across more than 500 genes in cancer and drug-resistance related pathways. The assay will report single nucleotide variants, insertions and deletions, copy number alterations, rearrangements, and genomic signatures. 

The group believes that the liquid biopsy assay will provide comprehensive genomic profiling data in clinical trials when tissue is unavailable and will allow researchers to evaluate drug response dynamics and mechanics of treatment resistance. 

"Utilizing digital technology, our history in drug development and PGDx's liquid biopsy expertise, we expect this new solution will help address the complexity of developing new oncology drugs," Takashi Owa, chief medicine creation and chief discovery officer of Eisai's oncology business, said in a statement.

"Our goal is to create the tools that will provide critical oncology insights that researchers and biopharma companies need to speed the process for developing new therapies for cancer patients," John Simmons, VP of translational medicine at PGDx, added.