HER2 Companion Diagnostic Test Helps Identify Patients for Two Additional Targeted Medicines

A new use of an HER2 assay can now also help identify breast cancer patients suitable for two additional HER2-targeted medicines, coinciding with therapy availability in many countries.

Approximately 20% of breast cancers are classified as Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2-positive (HER2+). Given that improved defining of HER2 status will allow for more informed treatment decisions, Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Tucson, AZ, USA), a member of the Roche Group, now offers the VENTANA HER2/neu (4B5) Rabbit Monoclonal Primary Antibody assay as a companion diagnostic for detecting HER2 protein expression for patients who, in countries where they are approved, may be appropriate candidates for treatment with Perjeta (pertuzumab) or Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine). Previously, this assay was labeled only for the identification of HER2-positive breast and gastric cancer patients for whom Herceptin (trastuzumab) treatment is being considered.

To further help build on the progress made with Herceptin, Roche recently introduced two additional HER2-directed therapies, Perjeta (pertuzumab) and Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine). "Our HER2 diagnostics portfolio, including both the VENTANA IHC and INFORM HER2 Dual ISH assays, is the market leader in terms of automation, medical value, and customer adoption,” said Doug Ward, Vice President, Companion Diagnostics, VMSI; “We are working to enable the VENTANA HER2 (4B5) IHC companion diagnostic assay in all markets where Perjeta and Kadcyla are available for therapy, bringing this technology to physicians and patients worldwide."

In addition to Roche, Ventana has worked with more than 45 bio-pharmaceutical partners over the past decade and is currently engaged in over 150 collaborative companion diagnostics related projects, toward helping identify the patients most likely to respond favorably to specific therapies.

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Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
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