AstraZeneca and ArcherDX to use personalized assays for minimal residual disease detection in lung cancer

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has entered into a collaboration with ArcherDX, a genomic analysis firm specializing in precision oncology. The partnership aims to utilize personalized cancer monitoring to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients diagnosed with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

ArcherDX's personalized assay will be implemented in AstraZeneca's recently launched MERMAID-1 Phase III trial. This study will evaluate the impact of adjuvant treatment with Imfinzi (durvalumab) combined with chemotherapy, compared to chemotherapy alone, on disease-free survival (DFS). The trial focuses on patients with completely resected, Stage II and III NSCLC who exhibit signs of MRD, indicating a high risk of relapse.

MRD refers to a small number of undetectable cancer cells that shed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) into the bloodstream. Monitoring MRD via ctDNA can provide crucial insights into treatment effectiveness, prognostication, and early detection of cancer recurrence. This capability may enable earlier intervention and tailored treatment strategies for individual patients.

While detecting and monitoring MRD in solid tumors has posed challenges, this collaboration and the MERMAID-1 trial are expected to advance the field of lung cancer treatment. The initiative aligns with the strategy to improve cancer outcomes by intervening at the earliest possible stages of the disease.

ArcherDX's personalized cancer monitoring (PCM) technology has received a Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company intends to leverage these assays for companion diagnostics for selected AstraZeneca medicines.