Sophia Genetics has announced that OncoHelix, an internationally recognised research and diagnostics laboratory for precision diagnostics, will implement MSK-ACCESS powered with SOPHiA DDM. The organisation, which currently uses the SOPHiA DDM platform for myeloid testing, will use the new liquid biopsy solution to advance its oncology testing capabilities.
OncoHelix is based in Calgary, Canada, and offers specialised genomic and molecular testing services globally. OncoHelix works in partnership with the Haematology Translational Laboratory (HTL) at the University of Calgary and has helped significantly advance the university's precision oncology and immunology research pipelines.
OncoHelix will be live on MSK-ACCESS powered with SOPHiA DDM later this summer.
"Our mission at OncoHelix is to offer exceptional clinical-grade molecular and immune profile testing. That mission is predicated on using the most cutting-edge technology to allow for the rapid validation of genomic panels, sequencing, and analysis," said Dr Pinaki Bose, co-founder and Executive Vice President, OncoHelix. "The SOPHiA DDM platform has supported our mission over the last year, and we look forward to implementing MSK-ACCESS to advance our liquid biopsy offering."
Liquid biopsy testing provides an alternative testing method to traditional solid tumour biopsy, which can be especially helpful when patients are facing limitations such as insufficient material or poor tissue quality, or simply need a less invasive method of biopsy. Liquid biopsy testing extracts cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from blood plasma, revealing circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). This approach, obtained through a simple blood draw, expedites clinical decisions, accelerates results for researchers and clinicians, and streamlines monitoring.
"OncoHelix has quickly become a trusted leader in precision oncology testing and that is due, in part, to its unrelenting focus on offering the most advanced technology solutions on the market," said John Carey, Managing Director, NORAM, Sophia Genetics. "We are excited to expand our relationship with OncoHelix by offering this new liquid biopsy solution, and continue supporting the company's commitment to tackling cancer research head-on via targeted testing."
MSK-ACCESS powered with SOPHiA DDM is a decentralised version of a highly validated ctDNA assay developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) that involves the deep sequencing of 146 key cancer-associated genes. The offering combines the sophisticated analytics, state-of-the-art algorithms, and global network of the SOPHiA DDM platform, with the scientific and clinical expertise of MSK in cancer genomics to provide a best-in-class liquid biopsy solution.