Illumina, pharmas partner for universal cancer assay

Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) partnered with three pharmas to develop a next-generation sequencing-based system to detect genetic variants linked to cancer that can be used to match patients with targeted therapeutics. The sequencing equipment maker will work with AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN), Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY) and the Janssen Biotech Inc. unit of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to develop the system, which initially will be used in clinical trials. Illumina said the ultimate goal is to develop a system that can be used by physicians to help guide treatment decisions.

Illumina's MiSeqDx genome sequencing system is the only high throughput, next-generation genomic sequencer with FDA approval for broad clinical use (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 19, 2013). ...