MassDevice

The Medical Device Business Journal — Medical Device News & Articles | MassDevice

Home » Quest Diagnostics launches blood test for colorectal cancer

Quest Diagnostics launches blood test for colorectal cancer

By

Quest Diagnostics Inc. (NYSE:DGX) introduced a new blood test with the potential to identify colorectal cancer by detecting chemical changes in specific strands of genetic material.

Quest Diagnostics plans to market its new ColoVantage test as a supplement to other screening tools such as colonoscopy and fecal occult blood tests. Company officials said in prepared remarks that while ColoVantage has not yet been clinically validated, they hope the relative ease of a blood test would convince individuals who previously have passed on more invasive tests to be screened.

“Early detection rates are dismally low, largely because many patients find existing tests and procedures invasive or unpleasant,” Quest chief medical officer Jon Cohen said. “ColoVantage … may promote further evaluation in patients who have resisted testing in the past or as an adjunct to existing procedures.”

Specifically, the new test is designed to find changes in the Septin9 gene, a biomarker first identified for its strong association to colorectal cancer by a German biotech, Epigenomics AP. Quest secured an non-exclusive license in February 2008 to the Septin9 technology from Epigenomics, which will receive royalty payments on Quest sales of the Septin9-based test on top of previous upfront and milestone payments from Quest.

The market for colorectal cancer screening is already filling up quickly with competitors. A North Carolinia-based startup, OncoMethylome Sciences Inc., reportedly may soon start enrolling patients for an upcoming trial for a similar blood test while Exact Sciences Corp. (NASQ:EXAS) in Madison, Wis., is working to develop an early-stage test for colorectal cancer by identifying specific DNA strains in patient stool samples.

Quest has marketed InSure, a FDA-cleared fecal immunochemical test for colorectal cancer, for several years.

In case you missed it

RSS From Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • January 2021 Issue: The Leadership in Medical Technology Issue
    9 lessons in crisis management from Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo These 10 stories mattered the most for medtech in 2020 How ResMed is advancing sleep and respiratory care How Dexcom CEO Kevin Sayer is leading the company forward Black engineers group works to promote diversity in medtech, equity in healthcare Taking the guesswork out of… […]
  • Olympus recalls thousands of endo devices due to packaging defect
    Olympus is recalling approximately 26,000 disposable EndoTherapy devices because of a packaging defect that could compromise their sterility. The announcement affects113 models distributed in the U.S.since early 2019, with different numbers of SKUs available in different regions worldwide. The company is asking customers to quarantine the devices until they can be shipped back to Olympus.… […]
  • FDA says to limit mask decontamination to 4 cycles
    Soon after healthcare workers began warning of personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, companies and other organizations started claiming their decontamination systems could reprocess used filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) such as N95s up to 20 times. The FDA began issuing emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for FFR decontamination systems with a range of allowable cycles and major… […]
  • 5 innovations to make duodenoscopes more single-use — and save lives
    Duodenoscopes are important medical devices that are used for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. However, the devices have had serious problems in the past. Luckily, several medical device companies have stepped in to solve the problems. Duodenoscopes are flexible, lighted tubes threaded through the mouth, throat and stomach into the top of the small intestine.… […]
  • Plastic Molding Manufacturing adds 5 molding machines
    Plastic Molding Manufacturing (Hudson, Mass.) announced that it has added five new injection molding and two coordinate measuring machines in upgrades to its manufacturing and quality operations. The $1 million-plus investment will enable the custom molding company to distribute the pair of 214-ton machines, two 259-ton machines, and a 101-ton machine throughout its manufacturing network,… […]
  • CytoSorbents names former Integra exec to regulatory post
    Blood purification tech manufacturer CytoSorbents (NSDQ:CTSO)announced the appointment of David D. Cox as VP of global regulatory affairs. Cox was most recently VP of regulatory affairs for tissue and regenerative technologies at Integra LifeSciences (NSDQ:IART). He was responsible for regulatory approvals of new products and product extensions for the $480 million orthopedics and tissue technologies division.… […]
  • FDA clears Siemens’ radiography systems
    Siemens Healthineers (ETR: SHL) announced that the FDA has cleared its Multix Impact C ceiling-mounted digital radiography (DR) system as well as the Multix Impact VA20, a new version of the established floor-mounted parent DR system. The Multix Impact C and the Multix Impact VA20 were designed with an intuitive operating system, versatile wireless detectors, motorized tube… […]
  • 7 takeaways from Biden’s ‘full-scale, wartime’ plan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic
    President Joe Biden kept to his word to announce plans to “establish clear federal leadership” to tackle the coronavirus pandemic on his first full day in office. The White House issued a 200-page document on Inauguration Day detailing “full-scale, wartime” plans to harness the nation’s manufacturing and distribution capabilities to boost vaccine production, end shortages… […]
  • Qosina adds 12 new fluid and gas filters
    OEM single-use component supplier Qosina announced earlier this month that it added 12 new filter options for fluid and gas applications. Ronkonkoma, N.Y.-based Qosina’s filter product line includes offerings across a range of hydrophilic and hydrophobic filters, transducer protectors and an assortment of NRFit filters that are compliant with the ISO 80369-6 standard, according to… […]
  • OmniGuide launches surgical laser system fiber
    OmniGuide today announced the FDA clearance and commercial launch of its new OTO-U CO2 laser system fiber for use in ENT and otology surgery. The new fiber is designed to enable the surgeon to get into a tighter space with more precision and improve procedure outcomes, according to the Lexington, Mass.-based company. “OTO-U surgical fiber… […]
  • Biden’s COVID-19 response will make manufacturers busy
    Manufacturers of vaccine supplies and personal protective equipment can expect more work as the new Biden administration rolls out its “full-scale, wartime” plans to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In one of his first official acts as president, Joe Biden announced a plan to “fully use” the Defense Production Act to ramp up manufacturing of testing… […]

Leave a Reply