Veracyte and Bayer collaborate in precision oncology

 

• Veracyte (NASDAQ:VCYT) is up +16.8% after announcing a collaboration with Bayer (OTCPK:BAYZF) to advance its Afirma Xpression Atlas for targeted therapies in patients with advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer.
• Regardless of the results and the treatment decision, Bayer will provide Afirma XA testing at no cost to all eligible patients, when ordered by the physician, according to the agreement.
• The program focuses on patients with advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer, that is RAIR (refractory to radioactive iodine), who may potentially benefit from biomarker-driven therapies.
• On fine needle aspirates taken from thyroid nodules or lymph nodes, the Afirma XA can identify 905 DNA variants and 235 RNA fusions in 593 genes, including novel NTRK gene fusions, more common in patients with RAIR thyroid cancer (2.4%-12% of patients).
• The companies expect to launch the program in Q1 2021. 
• Veracyte recently partnered with Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to accelerate the development of its non-invasive nasal swab test for early lung cancer detection.
• https://seekingalpha.com/news/3646727-veracyte-and-bayer-collaborate-in-precision-oncology-shares-jumpplus-17