Alliance Global has signed an agreement with Amgen to provide cancer mutation testing in certain countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The partners have established a program to provide next-generation sequencing-based screening to identify colorectal cancer patients who have mutations in the RAS family of genes. They will utilize Illumina’s MiSeqDx platform in screening the patients.
Illumina and Amgen announced last month that they would collaborate on the development of a MiSeqDx-based companion diagnostic for Amgen’s colorectal cancer drug Vectibix (panitumumab). That companion test is intended to identify patients’ RAS mutation status.
Alliance Global and Amgen will begin the screening program in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Kuwait, with additional countries in the Middle East and Africa expected to follow. Alliance Global said that it will work with Amgen Middle East to select and qualify labs throughout the region to provide the testing, and will supply all necessary instrumentation, assay materials, and training.