Exact Sciences Corp. opened a new cancer screening and diagnostic testing center in Torrey Pines on Feb. 25.
“We are thrilled to expand Exact Sciences’ presence in San Diego, a biotechnology hub with a deep talent pool,” said Kevin Conroy, chairman/CEO of Exact Sciences, whose new facility is on N. Torrey Pines Road. “Our initial focus for this state-of-the-art research and development facility will be to develop next-generation cancer diagnostics to help patients and physicians make better treatment decisions and more effectively monitor disease recurrence. We plan to double the number of our San Diego-based employees.”
Exact Sciences plans to use this additional laboratory space to advance early detection, minimal residual disease (MRD) cancer recurrence monitoring, therapy selection testing, and design of the company’s proprietary blood collection tubes.
This effort includes the expansion of Exact Sciences’ research and technology initiatives of cancer detection driven by biomarker discovery and advanced technology assessments, as well as the development of MRD tests capable of detecting residual disease from whole blood.
MRD tests are used for monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to allow for earlier detection of recurrence as compared to digital imaging. Customized to identify a patient’s specific tumor, MRD tests hold the potential to answer critical questions such as, “Did treatment remove all cancer?” and “Has cancer returned?”
Exact Sciences is best known for its noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test, Cologuard. Since its approval by the FDA in 2014, Cologuard has been used more than 7.5 million times to screen people for colorectal cancer.
Exact Sciences is working to bring similar advancements in technology and ease-of-use pioneered with Cologuard to other forms of cancer. Through growth and acquisitions, Exact Sciences now offers cancer screening and diagnostic tests for patients and health care providers along the cancer journey – before, during, and after a diagnosis.
Exact Sciences is collaborating with Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, and the Translational Genomics Research Institute to develop novel detection technologies for disease detection along the cancer care continuum.
In addition to Cologuard, Exact Sciences’ additional products include:
- Oncotype DX – A portfolio of breast, colon, and prostate cancer tests that apply advanced genomic science to reveal the unique biology of a tumor to help optimize cancer treatment decisions. With more than 1.5 million patients tested in more than 90 countries, the Oncotype DX tests have redefined personalized medicine by making genomics a critical part of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Oncotype MAP Pan-Cancer Tissue – A rapid, comprehensive tumor profiling test to aid therapy selection for patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. Results are provided within 3-5 business days using patient specimens as small as 3mm2 of tissue, about the size of a grain of rice.
- GEM ExTra – A comprehensive genomic test capable of detecting damage in genes and providing a complete biological picture of certain refractory, rare, or aggressive cancers. The GEM ExTra test provides physicians, academic medical centers, and biopharma researchers with vital interpreted information to help understand changes to a patient’s genomic tumor profile and recommend therapeutic treatment plans.
Based in Madison, Wisc., Exact Sciences’ national and international offices now consist of more than 15 locations and six clinical laboratories, along with four research and development facilities. The San Diego site will support some of the company’s most critical tests aimed at helping patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Exact Sciences has earned a reputation for relentlessly pursuing smarter solutions providing the clarity to take life-changing action, earlier. Building on the success of Cologuard and Oncotype tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its product pipeline to support patients before and throughout their cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Exact Sciences unites visionary collaborators to help advance the fight against cancer. For more information, visit exactsciences.com.
EXACT SCIENCES R&D FACILITY
Where: 11085 N. Torrey Pines Road.
Info: exactsciences.com.
