Foundation Medicine Expands Existing Collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb to Develop a Next-Generation Sequencing Companion Diagnostic to Identify Patients with Homozygous MTAP Deletion

Key Terms

companion diagnostic medical

A companion diagnostic is a medical test designed to identify which patients are likely to benefit from a specific drug or medical treatment, much like a key that shows whether a particular lock will open. For investors, these tests matter because they can increase a drug’s chances of approval and market uptake, create a separate revenue stream, and reduce commercial risk by matching treatments to the patients most likely to respond.

next-generation sequencing medical

Next-generation sequencing is a set of laboratory techniques that read large amounts of DNA or RNA quickly and cheaply by processing millions of short genetic fragments in parallel, rather than one at a time. For investors, it matters because faster, lower-cost genetic data powers drug discovery, diagnostic tests and personalized medicine, creating scalable revenue opportunities and competitive advantages for companies that own the technology or services.

homozygous mtap deletion medical

A homozygous MTAP deletion means both copies of the MTAP gene are missing from a cell’s DNA. Think of it as two identical pages ripped out of a recipe book, which can change how cells behave and is commonly seen in certain tumors. For investors, this matters because the deletion can serve as a biomarker that makes cancers eligible for specific targeted drugs and diagnostics, shaping clinical trial design and commercial potential.

mtap deficiency medical

MTAP deficiency is a genetic loss or inactivation of the MTAP enzyme that normally helps break down a small cellular byproduct; think of it as a broken recycling machine that lets a particular waste product build up. For investors, it matters because that buildup creates a predictable vulnerability in affected tumors that drug developers can target, making MTAP deficiency a biomarker used to select patients, design clinical trials and estimate the commercial potential of specialized therapies.

copy number calling medical

Copy number calling is the process of determining how many copies of a specific region of DNA are present in a sample, identifying whether segments are missing, duplicated, or unchanged. For investors, it matters because these measurements underpin diagnostic tests, patient selection for therapies, and biomarker-driven drug development; like counting spare parts in a machine, accurate counts can change the value of a medical test or therapeutic program.

copy number loss medical

A copy number loss is a genetic change where one or more copies of a segment of DNA are missing from a cell’s blueprint, like tearing pages out of an instruction manual. For investors, it matters because these losses can disable important genes involved in disease or treatment response, affecting the prospects for diagnostics, drug development, clinical outcomes and the commercial value of related therapies or tests.

biomarker-driven therapies medical

Treatments selected and given based on measurable biological indicators — such as specific genes, proteins, or lab test results — that predict which patients are most likely to benefit or face risks. Think of it as matching a medicine to the specific lock it fits rather than using one key for every door. For investors, these therapies can raise the odds of clinical success, speed regulatory approval, and command higher prices, while concentrating sales in smaller, well-defined patient groups.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Foundation Medicine, Inc., a global precision medicine company, today announced an expansion to its collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) to develop FoundationOne^®CDx as a next-generation sequencing-based companion diagnostic to identify patients with homozygous MTAP deletion in multiple indications for an investigational targeted therapy. The expansion broadens Foundation Medicine’s longstanding relationship in advancing biomarker-driven therapies with Bristol Myers Squibb.

Homozygous deletion is a major cause of MTAP deficiency.¹ Copy number calling can have low signal-to-noise ratio, making the alterations challenging to accurately identify. FoundationOne CDx is a tissue-based next-generation sequencing test approved by the FDA to detect copy number loss. Accurate reporting of homozygous deletion can help identify eligible patients for targeted therapies.

“Homozygous MTAP deletion is a critical biomarker, yet one that can be difficult to detect without an assay that unveils blind spots others interpret as noise,” said Troy Schurr, chief commercial officer at Foundation Medicine. “Foundation Medicine has approved companion diagnostic indications across all four major classes of genomic alterations and works with biopharmaceutical companies to support biomarker-driven therapy development. We look forward to collaborating with partners to help more patients benefit from advancements in precision oncology.”

Learn more about Foundation Medicine’s solutions portfolio for biopharmaceutical partners: https://www.foundationmedicine.com/unveiling-blind-spots

Foundation Medicine^® and FoundationOne^® are registered trademarks of Foundation Medicine, Inc.

About Foundation Medicine

Foundation Medicine is a global, patient-focused precision medicine company delivering high-quality, transformative diagnostic solutions in cancer and other diseases. We provide tests and solutions to transform care throughout a patient’s experience, from defining a diagnosis to determining the appropriate treatment to ongoing monitoring. We help accelerate the development of new personalized therapies by leveraging our vast knowledge of precision medicine, real world data and AI-powered tools, expanding the information our diagnostic solutions provide to enable improved outcomes for patients. Every day, we are inspired to think differently to transform the lives of people living with cancer and other diseases. For more information, visit us at www.FoundationMedicine.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky.

About FoundationOne^®CDx

FoundationOne^®CDx is for prescription use only and is an FDA-approved qualitative next-generation sequencing based in vitro diagnostic test for advanced cancer patients with solid tumors. The test analyzes 324 genes as well as genomic signatures including microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) and is a companion diagnostic to identify patients who may benefit from treatment with specific therapies in accordance with the approved therapeutic product labeling. Additional genomic findings may be reported and are not prescriptive or conclusive for labeled use of any specific therapeutic product. Use of the test does not guarantee a patient will be matched to a treatment. A negative result does not rule out the presence of an alteration. Some patients may require a biopsy which may pose a risk. For the complete label, including companion diagnostic indications and important risk information, please visit www.F1CDxLabel.com.

¹ Necchi A, Cigliola A, Tateo V, et al. Nature and distribution of methyl thioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) genomic loss in human tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(16_suppl):3067. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.3067

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Media Contact:
Danielle Johns, 845-304-7408
newsroom@foundationmedicine.com

Source: Foundation Medicine