AstraZeneca’s guiding principle is to accelerate the discovery of patient cures by using biosamples efficiently to develop patient selection tools. Maria Orr, Head of Precision Medicine Biosamples & Early Oncology at AstraZeneca briefly outlined AstraZeneca’s paradigm of identifying suitable biomarkers that can help predict patient response, developing diagnostic assays and ensuring regulatory approval and broad patient access.
Orr stated that AstraZeneca adopts an agnostic approach to the types of technologies and tools that it uses. Whether at the DNA or RNA level, AstraZeneca develops molecular-based tools in collaboration with its various partners. The company’s approach has enabled it to bring over 70 companion diagnostics to market globally. Orr also mentioned that when partnering with other organisations, one must be cognizant because it requires making sure that timelines and expectations are aligned.
AstraZeneca is actively seeking to break new ground in the field of biomarkers and develop its pipelines. Following the lines of its broad approach to cancer biology, Orr and her team have developed antibody drug conjugates and radio conjugates to target multiple cell surface molecules in tumour cells. There are also groups working on DNA damage response, continuing to build on the success of LYNPARZA, the first DNA damage response agent from AstraZeneca to receive approval.
AstraZeneca is a powerhouse in immune-oncology and is actively looking at immune engagers, T cell engagers and cell therapy. Over 90% of AstraZeneca’s oncology assets pursue an active precision medicine approach. Orr introduced two case studies: Tagrisso and TRUQAP. Tagrisso is a combined tissue-based and liquid biopsy (circulating tumour DNA) diagnostics for EGFR mutations, enabling broader patient identification and regulatory success. TRUQAP is a collaboration with Foundation Medicine to develop companion diagnostics for three biomarkers (PIK3CA, AKT1, PTEN).
In conclusion, AstraZeneca adopts an iterative process with continuous improvement and expansion of diagnostic tools to maximise patient reach and drug adoption, including the use of tissue-based and liquid biopsy diagnostics. Looking ahead, AstraZeneca is advancing the use of imaging, especially for radio conjugates, to better identify and treat patients, while addressing challenges like minimising patient exposure to radioactivity.
