Inivata Collaborates with Genomics England to Assess Samples and Explore Potential of Liquid Biopsy to Improve Cancer Management and Patient Outcomes

Inivata Collaborates with Genomics England to Assess Samples and Explore Potential of Liquid Biopsy to Improve Cancer Management and Patient Outcomes

Pilot study to test Genomics England samples using Inivata's InVision^TM platform

Research Triangle Park, NC and Cambridge, UK, October 13, 2017 -- Inivata, a global clinical cancer genomics company utilizing an industry-leading liquid biopsy platform to transform patient care, today announces that it is collaborating with Genomics England to assess the quality of blood plasma samples and explore the potential of liquid biopsy to improve disease management and patient outcomes.

In the first phase of a larger pilot, Inivata will analyse plasma samples donated by participants in Genomics England's 100,000 Genomes Project. As well as determining the suitability of plasma, the study will focus on the use of Inivata's world-leading liquid biopsy technology, InVision, to discover the mutations in the human genome that can lead to or demonstrate the presence of cancer.

These results, and those from the two subsequent phases, will be shared with researchers in the UK and around the world - with the potential to develop less invasive sample collection techniques, more effective monitoring processes and, ultimately, better cancer care.

Michael Stocum, Chief Executive Officer of Inivata, said, "As a company with a strong UK heritage, we are delighted to have partnered with the 100,000 Genomes Project - a world-leading initiative which is committed to keeping the UK at the forefront of medical innovation and care. This pilot study will enable us to combine our efforts through the sharing of insights and the assessment of how liquid biopsy technology could ultimately transform cancer care within the NHS, saving lives and money."

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About Inivata
Inivata is a global clinical cancer genomics company utilizing a proprietary, industry-leading liquid biopsy platform to transform patient care.  Using a simple blood test (liquid biopsy), the analysis of ctDNA is a new lower-cost, less invasive, highly sensitive method for oncologists to diagnose and monitor cancer progression and treatment. The InVision(TM) liquid biopsy platform is based on pioneering research from the Rosenfeld Lab at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK-CI), University of Cambridge, combines industry-leading sensitivity with a select multi-gene panel to provide clinically actionable information to clinicians. Inivata has established collaborations with world-leading cancer centers and academic institutions, and is partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.  The Company has a CLIA lab in Research Triangle Park, NC and laboratories in Cambridge, UK. For more information, please go to www.inivata.com. Follow us on Twitter @Inivata.

About the 100,000 Genomes Project

The project will sequence 100,000 genomes from around 70,000 people. Participants are NHS patients with a rare disease, plus their families, and patients with cancer.

The aim is to create a new genomic medicine service for the NHS - transforming the way people are cared for. Patients may be offered a diagnosis where there wasn't one before. In time, there is the potential of new and more effective treatments.

The project will also enable new medical research. Combining genomic sequence data with medical records is a ground-breaking resource. Researchers will study how best to use genomics in healthcare and how best to interpret the data to help patients. The causes, diagnosis and treatment of disease will also be investigated. We also aim to kick-start a UK genomics industry. This is currently the largest national sequencing project of its kind in the world.

About Genomics England

Genomics England is a company owned by the Department of Health and was set up to deliver the 100,000 Genomes Project.  This flagship project will sequence 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients and their families.

Genomics England has four main aims:

• to bring benefit to patients
• to create an ethical and transparent programme based on consent 
• to enable new scientific discovery and medical insights
• to kickstart the development of a UK genomics industry

The project is focusing on patients with rare diseases, and their families, as well as patients with common cancers. For more information visit www.genomicsengland.co.uk.

Media Contacts:

Consilium Strategic Communications
Chris Gardner/Laura Thornton/ Rosie Phillips  
[email protected]
+44 (0)20 3709 5700

Karen Chandler-Smith
[email protected]
+44 (0)7900 430235