NEW YORK — Amgen said on Monday that it has partnered with NeoGenomics as part of a new program to expand biomarker testing access to all advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients.
The new program, dubbed Biomarker Assist, consists of two efforts. Through the first part, the Next-Generation Sequencing Affordability Program, Amgen will provide financial assistance to advanced NSCLC patients facing out-of-pocket costs for comprehensive biomarker panels. To be eligible, patients must have commercial or private insurance and the NGS panel must include the KRAS gene.
Through the program's second part, the KRAS Single Gene Test Program, Thousand Oaks, California-based Amgen will cover the cost of Fort Myers, Florida-based NeoGenomics' single-gene tests for the KRAS G12C driver mutation for all patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC regardless of their insurance status or results. Both programs will remain valid for testing performed through the end of the year.
"Unfortunately, many patients still do not receive biomarker testing due to barriers in education, access, and reimbursement," Darryl Sleep, Amgen's chief medical officer and senior VP of global medicine, said in a statement. "Amgen's Biomarker Assist program is designed to help more patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer gain access to testing. NeoGenomics' KRAS Single Gene Test is an important component of this program."