DNA sequencing firm partners with big HIT players

Illumina, a key vendor of DNA sequencing firm to enable clinicians and researchers to read and comprehend genetic variations, is partnering with IBM and Philips in separate genomic research projects.

IBM will integrate its Watson for Genomics decision support product, deployed on technology from Quest Diagnostics, with solid tumor profiling panel of Illumina that can depict a set of variants across 170 different kinds of genes to assist in development of personalized treatment options for cancer sufferers.

This will speed a procedure that generally now takes about a week to complete. The challenge in genomic testing is the expertise needed to give interpretation services, claims Rob Merkel, vice president of oncology and genomics at IBM Watson Health, and Watson can do the process in about 5 minutes.

“Illumina, the DNA sequencing firm, will integrate our interpretations into its latest 170-gene panel,” Merkel states. “When you sequence a tumor against healthy tissue, you can observe variations between healthy tissue and the tumor by comparing the DNA side by side.”

To do this, Watson compares the DNA to develop molecular profile analyses to recognize aberrations causing the tumor, establish biological pathways of the tumor and conduct drug analyses, all to verify what medicines and/or clinical trials are best suitable for the sufferer.

In its agreement with Philips, Illumina will integrate its DNA sequencing with Philips’ cloud-based genomics platform to support the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of genomics information during cancer research.

Both agencies are seeking U.S. healthcare systems to work with them in establishing oncology precision medicine programs. Participating researchers will have approach to advanced analytics, thorough learning technologies and a range of reference materials.

The aim is to seek new ways to quickly and precisely interpret genomic findings in the context of a sufferer’s condition, in accordance to Philips.

“While cancer sufferers can have hundreds of gene variants in their tumors, merely a small number might really drive the individual’s specific cancer or might have actionable therapeutic implications for a specific patient. The sufferer’s history, related lab tests and cancer type are required for a meaningful interpretation of the genomic data,” a Philips spokesman points out.