Clinical Genomics acquisition brings bowel cancer blood test to the fore

Clinical Genomics - the developer of a blood-based biomarker test in collaboration with CSIRO Preventative Health Flagship and the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer - has acquired US-based screening company Enterix from Quest Diagnostics, as well as its Sydney-based subsidiary.

The acquisition provides the company with the distribution infrastructure to launch the test in early 2014, including a regulatory-licensed manufacturing facility in the USA and Australia, and access to a speciality pathology laboratory in Australia for selling bowel cancer screening services.

The deal also gives Clinical Genomics ownership of Enterix’s InSure faecal immunochemical test (FIT) ‘brush test’ product line, used by the BowelScreen Australia Program. This product will be combined with the new blood plasma test to deliver a portfolio of colorectal cancer screening products aimed at user-friendly, patient-preferred screening solutions.

Clinical Genomics CEO Dr Lawrence LaPointe said the acquisition is “a key step in our transition from a biotech company focused primarily on research and development into a commercial entity with a portfolio of cancer screening products and an exciting pipeline.”

Bowel Cancer Australia has supported the development of the blood test, most recently raising funds for research to expedite its development. The charity’s chief executive, Julien Wiggins, said the additional screening option was particularly valuable as Australia has “one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world”.

“For the first time, Australians will be provided with comprehensive bowel cancer screening options - an immunochemical FOB (faecal occult blood) test or a blood test,” he said. “We hope this will go a long way to improving five-year survival rates for bowel cancer which, at 66%, lag well behind many other common cancers (around 90%).”

He added that the blood test will not replace the FOB test, which can prevent bowel cancer entirely, but it will detect the cancer’s presence.

“We know early detection saves lives and a blood test provides another mechanism by which to do that. It is a real opportunity to improve survival rates for the 14,000 families who are affected each year by a bowel cancer diagnosis.”