Aiming for Virtual Tumor Biopsy
J&J's oncology and Veridex diagnostic groups are developing "virtual biopsy"
As part of a broad biomarker program, Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Biotech Oncology Research & Development group is collaborating with the pharma's Veridex LLC diagnostic unit to use the CellSearch System to discover and develop biomarkers that can help select appropriate patients for clinical trials and monitor responses to treatments.
Veridex markets CellSearch as an in vitro diagnostic to determine the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. CellSearch identifies and counts circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a blood sample to predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The test is not approved to direct therapy, but its results provide information that oncologists can use along with other test results to make more informed treatment decisions...