Foundation Medicine: Panoramic profiling

Current pharmacogenetic tests for cancer are tumor- or mutation-specific, which limits the amount of information that can be gleaned from a single test. Foundation Medicine Inc. is creating a single test designed to provide a molecular profile of a range of mutations in any tumor with a single assay. This would reduce the need for multiple tests and could identify additional treatment options for patients.

According to Gary Palmer, SVP of medical affairs and commercial development, most companion diagnostics are specific to a single gene. Thus, if the result is negative, the doctor only knows what drug not to give the patient...