Illumina Throws Weight Behind National Initiative to Assess Potential of Exhaustive Genomic Profiling in Advanced Cancer Real-World Scenario Across Belgium

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) divulged a pact with the Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO), which spearheads a fresh national trial to assess the viability of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in 864 patients grappling with advanced metastatic cancer. Dubbed BALLETT (Belgian Approach for Local Laboratory Extensive Tumor Testing), the initiative will enlist patients from 12 designated sites to undergo CGP facilitated by one of nine cutting-edge next-generation sequencing laboratories dispersed across Belgium. The insights garnered from CGP will inform the selection of optimal therapeutic avenues for patients, with the objective of augmenting clinical outcomes in advanced cancer. Commencement of the study is slated for the upcoming month.

CGP harnesses Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to scrutinize hundreds of genes and biomarkers present in tissue and blood samples, discerning those pivotal in propelling cancer progression. Illumina will furnish its CGP panel, TruSight™ Oncology 500 (TSO500), alongside NovaSeq™ 6000 and NextSeq™ sequencing platforms for the endeavor. The clinical elucidation of the sequencing data will be orchestrated leveraging the PierianDx Clinical Genomic Workspace™ solution and OncoDNA Clinical Decision Support Platform OncoKDM®.

"Belgium stands at the forefront of leveraging novel technologies to actualize precision healthcare. Through this novel exploration, we aspire to ensure equitable access to tailored treatment regimens for cancer patients across Belgium," remarked Dr. Sylvie Rottey, Chair of BSMO.

"CGP unveils the distinctive molecular fingerprint of a patient's malignancy, empowering their oncological team to chart the most efficacious therapeutic trajectory bespoke to their condition," articulated Phil Febbo, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Illumina. "We are immensely gratified to collaborate with BSMO and the various cancer institutes spread across Belgium in scrutinizing the utility of CGP within a real-world context, with the primary aim of enhancing patient outcomes through precision-guided therapeutic interventions."

Dr. Brigitte Maes of Jessa Hospital in Belgium, serving as the Coordinator of the BALLETT study, expounded, "In consonance with Belgium's overarching commitment to advancing precision medicine, this study will furnish invaluable insights into the comparative efficacy of CGP vis-à-vis existing reimbursed sequencing methodologies. Notably, in addition to unraveling genetic mutations underpinning cancer pathogenesis, CGP will unmask malignancies propelled by the tumor mutational burden (TMB) biomarker, thereby guiding patients towards immunotherapeutic modalities. Ergo, the study holds promise in extending access to adjunctive therapeutic avenues that may have eluded consideration through conventional diagnostic paradigms."

The genomic data, concomitant with de-identified clinical records stemming from the study, will populate a newly-established national genomic tumor repository, under the aegis of Belgium's Scientific Institute for Public Health, Sciensano. This repository is architected to propel precision medicine initiatives and foster patients' access to novel, efficacious therapeutics.

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