Haystack MRD™ Technology in Phase II NSCLC Trial with AFT

Haystack Oncology, a subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, has announced a partnership with Alliance Foundation Trials (AFT) to utilize Haystack's personalized MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) technology in a phase II clinical trial. The trial, known as AFT-57, is focused on patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that cannot be surgically removed. The study is aimed at assessing the therapeutic response to an anti-PD-L1 drug, atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), potentially in combination with tiragolumab (an anti-TIGIT agent), when used alongside chemoradiotherapy. Genentech, part of the Roche Group, is backing the clinical study.
Dan Edelstein, the Vice President and General Manager at Haystack Oncology, highlighted the potential of ctDNA analysis in evaluating new therapeutic strategies. He emphasized that Haystack MRD is designed with high sensitivity to detect ctDNA, which is crucial for the development of innovative treatment plans. AFT's Executive Officer, David Kozono, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting that the MRD technology could profoundly affect the lives of patients with advanced NSCLC.
Haystack Oncology's expertise is rooted in over two decades of progress in liquid biopsy technologies, developed by cancer genomics experts at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Their flagship product, Haystack MRD, employs advanced ctDNA technology to identify a single molecule among a million, facilitating the detection of minimal residual disease. The company collaborates with biopharmaceutical firms to enhance therapeutics and diagnostics, from initial clinical development to market-readiness. Haystack Oncology's testing services are CLIA-certified in the US and are accessible in labs in Baltimore, Maryland; Hamburg, Germany; and Helsinki, Finland.
Quest Diagnostics, the parent company of Haystack Oncology, is dedicated to enhancing health outcomes through diagnostic insights derived from an extensive database of clinical lab results. The company serves a significant portion of the US population, including a third of adult Americans, and works closely with healthcare providers to foster better disease management and inspire healthier behaviors.
Alliance Foundation Trials is a research entity specializing in the development and execution of cancer clinical trials. AFT operates in conjunction with the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, aiming to lessen the burden of cancer by bringing together a diverse group of scientists and clinicians. Their collective efforts are directed towards finding, confirming, and spreading effective cancer prevention and treatment strategies.