UPDATE: The story had incorrectly stated that the test was FDA approved as a companion diagnostic to identify patients with ALK mutations who may respond to the cancer drug Xalkori. We regret the error.
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Thermo Fisher Scientific today said its Oncomine Dx Target Test has received a positive coverage decision from Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield.
As a result, the insurer will cover the test for its members with non-small cell lung cancer in Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and certain counties in Washington.
The next-generation sequencing-based companion diagnostic, which simultaneously evaluates 23 genes clinically associated with NSCLC, allows physicians to match patients to therapies, which have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, in days instead of weeks, Thermo Fisher said.
The FDA approved the panel in June to predict which patients with EGFR mutations, ROS1 rearrangements, and BRAF mutations are likely to derive benefit from Iressa (gefitinib), Xalkori (crizotinib), and the Mekinist (trametinib)/Tafinlar (dabrafenib) combo, respectively. In August, the test received a proprietary laboratory analyses code from the American Medical Association, Thermo Fisher said.