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AstraZeneca India to set up Centre of Excellence in Delhi for lung cancer testing
The centre will focus on the availability of subsidised, high-quality, NGS testing in eligible lung cancer patients
- By Newsdesk
- New Delhi
- Jun 27, 2023
AstraZeneca Pharma India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center (RGCI&RC). This collaboration aims to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) at the RGCI&RC lab in Delhi, dedicated to providing subsidised, high-quality, and validated Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) molecular panel testing for eligible individuals diagnosed with lung cancer in India.
As part of this collaboration, the molecular diagnostics lab at RGCI&RC will offer a comprehensive 34-gene panel-based NGS test at a subsidized cost to eligible lung cancer patients. This panel will include major biomarkers that play a crucial role in guiding appropriate treatment decisions for lung cancer patients. RGCI&RC's molecular diagnostics lab is accredited by NABL and has been at the forefront of liquid biopsy research, utilizing both PCR and NGS technologies.
AstraZeneca and RGCI&RC envision that this collaboration will expand access to NGS-based testing, thereby facilitating informed treatment decisions for lung cancer patients. Despite significant advancements in NGS-based testing, access to quality-assured and validated biomarker testing for lung cancer remains insufficient. According to the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), in 2018, less than 50% of lung cancer patients worldwide received appropriate molecular testing.
Over the past decade, the landscape of lung cancer treatment has witnessed notable transformations with the emergence of multiple actionable biomarkers as companion and complementary diagnostics for personalized medicine. These advancements have led to improved quality of life and overall survival rates for patients with lung cancer. However, the need to enhance access to validated biomarker testing in lung cancer persists.