COMPANY:

Quest Diagnostics

"Haystack Oncology...and Lisata Therapeutics...announced a research collaboration. Lisata will deploy the highly sensitive Haystack MRD technology for the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in a clinical study evaluating certepetide plus chemotherapy as an investigational treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer. In the FORTIFIDE study, Lisata is investigating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of its lead product candidate, certepetide...in subjects with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who have progressed on FOLFIRINOX, a treatment for pancreatic cancer. As part of this research, Lisata has engaged Haystack to use its MRD technology to measure serum ctDNA levels at multiple timepoints in patients throughout the study as an exploratory endpoint for analyzing the early therapeutic effect of certepetide."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced a definitive agreement with OMERS to acquire LifeLabs...for a value of approximately CAN $1.35 billion (approximately USD $985 million), including net debt...LifeLabs will retain its brand, Canadian headquarters, and management after the acquisition is closed. Quest will provide LifeLabs with new expertise, innovations and resources to strengthen the services provided by LifeLabs' more than 6,500 employees."

"Haystack’s minimal residual disease (MRD) detection technology was featured in 2 presentations at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting this June in Chicago. Dr Andrea Cercek of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center presented exciting results for a PD-1 blockade drug in treating mismatch repair–deficient rectal cancers, while Dr Jeanne Tie of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center shared a 5-year update from the DYNAMIC study, which used MRD testing to guide adjuvant chemo decisions."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of PathAI Diagnostics from PathAI, with the goal to accelerate the adoption of AI and digital pathology to improve the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases....In connection with the acquisition, the PathAI Diagnostics state-of-the-art digitized laboratory in Memphis has been rebranded as AmeriPath and will act as the national AI and digital R&D and solutions center supporting Quest's specialty pathology businesses, AmeriPath and Dermpath Diagnostics....In addition, PathAI and Quest have formed separate agreements to further accelerate the adoption of AI and digital pathology based on their strengths and scale."

"A blood test could help reduce costs for health plans by reliably identifying patients who might be able to safely forgo chemotherapy after surgery for stage II colorectal cancer, according to a study published today in JAMA Health Forum, a member of the JAMA Network. Researchers from Haystack Oncology...and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research conducted the study."

"Quest Diagnostics..and PathAI...today announced a multi-faceted collaboration designed to accelerate the adoption of digital and AI pathology innovations to improve quality, speed and efficiency in diagnosing cancer and other diseases...Under the terms of a definitive agreement, Quest will acquire select assets of PathAI Diagnostics, the business of PathAI that provides anatomic and digital pathology laboratory services."

"Leading commercial organizations and patient advocacy groups in the field of cancer genetics...announced the founding of the Inter-Organization Cancer Genetics Clinical Evidence Coalition (INTERACT), a coalition whose mission is to increase evidence-based access to genetic testing for people with or at risk of hereditary cancers...The coalition seeks to provide a collective voice in support of the progression of medical professional and industry guidelines for genetic testing for inherited mutations that increase cancer risk."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced the launch of MelaNodal Predict™, a highly advanced predictive gene expression test to help personalize treatment decisions for patients with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer and one of the most common cancers in the United States. Dermatologists and other providers nationwide may begin ordering the test today from Quest Diagnostics, as well as through Dermpath Diagnostics, Quest's subspecialty pathology business."

"Haystack Oncology...has entered a research collaboration with TriSalus Life Sciences to evaluate therapeutic response and provide molecular insights in connection with the clinical development of TriSalus' SD-101, an investigational class C toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) agonist. SD-101 is delivered via hepatic arterial infusion or pancreatic retrograde venous infusion in their phase 1 and 1b clinical trials using their proprietary Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery™ (PEDD™) to overcome the challenges associated with intratumoral pressure for patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma."

"Ultima Genomics...and Quest Diagnostics...announced a collaboration involving Ultima’s next generation sequencing (NGS) technology in oncology and other clinical areas...Quest intends to deploy the Ultima technology for the possible development of lab-developed tests involving its Haystack solid-tumor MRD™ technology for future clinical and biopharmaceutical MRD applications, supplementing its current whole exome sequencing approach, as well as for certain future whole genome testing applications, such as rare disease detection in pediatric patients."

"Haystack Oncology...has entered into a collaboration with Alliance Foundation Trials, LLC (AFT) for research use of Haystack Oncology's personalized MRD technology (Haystack MRD™) to analyze therapeutic response and provide molecular insights for AFT's interventional, randomized phase II clinical trial (AFT-57) in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The AFT-57 clinical study is supported by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and will explore the efficacy and safety of an anti-PD-L1 atezolizumab (Tecentriq^®) with or without tiragolumab (anti-TIGIT) in conjunction with chemoradiotherapy."

"Haystack Oncology...has entered into a collaboration with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey to use Haystack Oncology's industry-leading personalized MRD technology (Haystack MRD™) to help evaluate therapeutic response and provide molecular insights for a Rutgers Cancer Institute clinical trial examining early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients undergoing treatment in the adjuvant setting with liposomal doxorubicin and carboplatin. Rutgers Cancer Institute together with RWJBarnabas Health is the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center."

"Universal DX...announced a strategic collaboration with Quest Diagnostics ('Quest')...designed to improve colorectal cancer screening in the United States – for which more than 110 million people may be eligible. Under the commercial agreement between UDX and Quest, Quest plans to perform and provide clinical laboratory services to providers and patients in the United States based on UDX's Signal-C, an advanced colorectal cancer screening blood test, assuming premarket approval of the test in the United States."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced the launch of a novel prostate cancer biomarker test through its subspecialty pathology business, AmeriPath, in collaboration with Envision Sciences. Envision Sciences Pty Ltd. is an Australian-based clinical diagnostics company developing a pipeline of biomarker-based cancer diagnostic and prognostic tests in tissue and blood...The new, tissue-based test service is intended to address the pressing clinical need for tests to help identify and differentiate potentially aggressive cases of prostate cancer in men."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced the launch of its first consumer-initiated genetic test, now exclusively available through the company's consumer health business at questhealth.com. Called Genetic Insights, the new offering helps people understand their potential risk of developing certain inheritable health conditions...Using a saliva specimen, Genetic Insights analyzes 36 genes to identify potential risk of nearly two dozen inheritable conditions, including breast and colon cancer..."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Haystack Oncology. Haystack Oncology has developed a highly sensitive minimal-residual disease (MRD) testing technology, based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), to aid in the early detection of residual or recurring cancer and better inform therapy decisions. Quest expects to incorporate this MRD technology into the development of new blood-based clinical lab services for solid tumor cancers available beginning in 2024."

"Quest Diagnostics...and Haystack Oncology...announced a definitive agreement for Quest to acquire Haystack in an all-cash equity transaction...Following the close of the acquisition, Quest expects to adapt the MRD test developed at Haystack as the basis for new clinical lab services available beginning in 2024. Development efforts will focus initially on MRD tests for colorectal, breast and lung cancers."

"Quest Diagnostics...announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of select assets of Northern Light Laboratory...Quest now provides professional laboratory management services for nine of Northern Light Health's hospital laboratories, along with its cancer center laboratory at Northern Light Cancer Care in Brewer, Maine."

"Cleveland Diagnostics, Inc...announced an agreement designed to expand patient access to Cleveland Diagnostics’ novel prostate cancer test, IsoPSA. Through an agreement with Quest Diagnostics...the nation’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, patients will be able to access IsoPSA and, once ordered by their physician, provide a blood specimen for testing at one of over 2,100 Quest Diagnostics patient service center locations nationwide later this year. With its national logistics network, Quest will transport the specimens to Cleveland Diagnostics’ laboratory for testing. The parties expect physicians will be able to begin offering the test to patients through Quest Diagnostics in the second quarter of 2023."

"Agilent Technologies Inc....announced an agreement with Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services. The alliance will enable providers and patients throughout the United States to access the Agilent Resolution ctDx FIRST liquid biopsy next-generation sequencing (NGS) test....The agreement between Quest and Agilent will enable broad adoption for ctDx FIRST, a single-site premarket approved (ssPMA) test performed at the Resolution Bioscience CLIA laboratory in Kirkland, Washington....Under the terms of the agreement, Quest will offer ctDx FIRST to healthcare providers in the United States seeking a minimally invasive liquid biopsy test option as a CDx for KRAZATI."

"Haystack’s co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Josh Cohen, will be participating in a panel discussion at the upcoming Precision Medicine World Conference (PMWC) in Silicon Valey, CA. The panel, 'Liquid Biopsy for Minimal Residual Disease,' will take place on January 26 and will bring together recognized leaders in the MRD field."

"Quest Diagnostics...and Northern Light Health...announced a strategic laboratory collaboration designed to broaden access to innovative, quality and cost-effective laboratory services powering affordable care for communities in Maine...Quest will also provide professional laboratory management services for nine of Northern Light Health's hospital laboratories, along with its cancer center laboratory at Northern Light Cancer Care in Brewer, Maine."

"Haystack Oncology...announced that it raised $56 million in Series A financing. The funding will be used for the continued development and planned 2023 commercialization of its best-in-class personalized cancer diagnostic test that can detect as few as one mutant molecule in a million DNA molecules, positioning it as the most sensitive ctDNA-based MRD test for use in solid tumors. The financing was led by Catalio Capital Management ('Catalio'), which co-founded Haystack through its private equity and structured equity investment vehicles. Additional investors include Bruker, Exact Ventures, the venture arm of Exact Sciences and Alexandria Venture Investments....The company plans to use the proceeds to expand accessibility to its groundbreaking ctDNA-based MRD testing platform, Haystack Duo™, a low-error rate, next-generation chemistry that enables ultrasensitive and personalized MRD testing."

"Physicians in the United States can now order the liquid biopsy-based Target Selector™ NGS Lung Panel test directly from Quest Diagnostics...Developed by Biocept, Inc...the lab-developed liquid biopsy test aids genomic profiling in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), helping physicians identify potential targeted therapies and monitor the effectiveness of treatment...The Target Selector NGS Lung Panel contributes to better patient outcomes by providing physicians with direction on therapeutic options for those battling NSCLC."