NEW YORK – Diatech Pharmacogenetics said Wednesday that it has expanded an existing collaboration with Merck KGaA affiliate Merck Serono Middle East to improve patient access to RAS biomarker testing in the Middle East and Africa regions.
Italy-based Diatech's solid-tumor CE-IVD sequencing kits allow quick and accurate detection of biomarkers that can inform personalized care for patients — in this case, those with colorectal cancer. Targeted therapies are now available for colorectal tumors with alterations in genes like KRAS and NRAS, but patients must be tested for these markers to be eligible.
"This expanded collaboration with Diatech Pharmacogenetics underscores our commitment to improving RAS biomarker testing in the Middle East and Africa. By working together, we aim to empower healthcare providers with the tools necessary to deliver personalized treatment options for colorectal cancer patients, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes in the region," Ramsey Morad, Merck's senior VP and head of the Middle East and Africa region, said in a statement.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.