Foundation Medicine Expands Beyond Oncology with Whole Genome Sequencing Test for Cardiometabolic and Neurologic Diseases
Key Insights
Foundation Medicine launched its first Whole Genome Sequencing Germline test (search) for research use, marking the company's expansion beyond oncology into cardiometabolic, immunologic, and neurologic disease areas.
The new WGS test provides comprehensive genome-wide coverage of both exonic and intronic regions through Foundation Medicine's FlexOMx Lab to support biopharmaceutical partners' translational research programs.
Foundation Medicine also announced a strategic partnership with SWOG Clinical Trials Partnerships (search), leveraging the company's 100 approved companion diagnostic indications across over 1,300 clinical sites nationwide.
Foundation Medicine has announced the launch of its Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Germline test for research use, marking a significant expansion beyond the company's traditional oncology focus into cardiometabolic, immunologic, and neurologic disease areas. The test is now available through Foundation Medicine's FlexOMx Lab to support biopharmaceutical partners' translational research programs and retrospective clinical trials.
Comprehensive Genomic Coverage for Complex Diseases
The WGS Germline test delivers comprehensive genome-wide coverage of both exonic and intronic regions, representing Foundation Medicine's first assay designed to provide biopharmaceutical partners with genomic insights needed for exploration and detection of chronic, heterogeneous disease areas. According to Troy Schurr, chief commercial officer at Foundation Medicine, "As biopharmaceutical pipelines expand targeted therapies beyond the traditional oncology space and into different areas of medicine, the demand for quality germline data has never been greater."
Foundation Medicine has built its reputation on comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) that changed the course of precision medicine in cancer (search). The company achieved the historic milestone of 100 approved companion diagnostic (CDx) indications last year, representing the most of any CGP company. Now, the organization is applying this expertise to new disease areas, beginning with cardiometabolic, immunologic and neurologic disorders.
Personalized Medicine Applications
The WGS Germline test provides the molecular blueprint drug developers need to move from broad treatments to a personalized approach. By unveiling the hidden pathways of complex diseases, Foundation Medicine empowers its biopharmaceutical partners to decode the trajectory of disorders. The test enables assessment of polygenic risk scores to inform disease susceptibility and leveraging pharmacogenomic response scores to pre-empt adverse drug reactions, turning biological complexity into a clear, personalized roadmap for future clinical success.
Strategic Partnership with SWOG Clinical Trials
In a parallel development, Foundation Medicine announced a strategic partnership with SWOG Clinical Trials Partnerships (search) (SWOG CTP) to advance biomarker-driven research and clinical trials. This collaboration marks the first partnership of this nature between SWOG and a diagnostic company, building upon Foundation Medicine's decade-long collaboration with SWOG Cancer (search) Research Network through the Lung Cancer (search) Master Protocol (Lung-MAP) trial.
SWOG CTP's network of investigators and committees spans over 1,300 sites in 47 states, including community hospitals, academic medical centers and National Cancer (search) Institute-designated clinical cancer centers. These sites can now collaborate with Foundation Medicine on initiatives including multi-arm platform trials and registrational studies that may lead to future CDx applications.
Dr. Todd Druley, chief medical officer at Foundation Medicine, stated, "SWOG CTP shares our commitment to advancing precision oncology by pursuing scientifically rigorous, cutting-edge biomarker-driven research. By bringing Foundation Medicine's deep scientific, regulatory and genomic expertise to SWOG CTP and its broad investigator community, we can help accelerate new breakthroughs in biomarker-driven medicine, moving from discovery to impacting patient care in the clinic with speed and clarity."
Expanding Diagnostic Capabilities
Dr. Kathy S. Albain, SWOG vice chair for Clinical Trials Partnerships, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: "SWOG CTP offers access to an extensive network of sites nationwide and the opportunity to move biomarker-driven science closer to the people who need it most. This formalized partnership marks an exciting step forward – one we believe will drive the translation of promising research into meaningful options for patients."
Foundation Medicine's portfolio of tests and services offers biopharmaceutical partners options for uncovering multi-omic insights in oncology and other diseases at every milestone to help de-risk their programs and accelerate the transition from phase to phase. The company's expansion into germline whole genome sequencing represents a new chapter in solving critical diagnostic challenges across the broader healthcare ecosystem, leveraging its proven ability to navigate the complexities of CDx development and global regulatory landscapes.