Quest Diagnostics and Scipher Medicine Collaborate to Scale Precision Medicine Access for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rhea-AI Summary

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) and Scipher Medicine Announce Collaboration to Expand Precision Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Positive

• Collaboration leverages Quest's sequencing and specimen collection expertise with Scipher's precision medicine technology
• Quest will provide RNA extraction and next-generation sequencing services for Scipher's PrismRA test
• Specimen collection will be enabled at approximately 7,300 patient access points, including phlebotomists in physician offices and over 2,100 patient service center locations
• PrismRA test aims to predict a patient's response to TNF inhibitor therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
• RA affects approximately 1.3 million people in the United States, and one in three patients fail to achieve a favorable response to TNF inhibitors
• PrismRA test helps identify patients unlikely to respond to TNF inhibitors, guiding alternative effective therapy

Negative

• None.

Insights

Healthcare Industry Analyst

The collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and Scipher Medicine represents a significant advancement in the field of precision medicine, particularly in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This partnership is poised to enhance the diagnostic process by incorporating next-generation RNA sequencing into the PrismRA test, which aims to predict patient responses to TNF inhibitor therapies. The implications for the healthcare industry are substantial, as the integration of advanced diagnostics can lead to more personalized and effective treatment regimens, potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with ineffective treatments.

From a financial perspective, the partnership could lead to increased revenue streams for Quest Diagnostics through expanded diagnostic services. Moreover, the potential reduction in healthcare spending on ineffective RA treatments aligns with the broader industry trend towards cost-efficiency and value-based care. However, the adoption rate of the PrismRA test and its integration into clinical practice will be critical factors in determining the long-term financial impact of this collaboration.

For stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers and investors, the short-term benefits may include enhanced access to precision diagnostics and potentially improved treatment outcomes for RA patients. Long-term benefits could encompass a shift towards more data-driven and individualized treatment approaches in autoimmune diseases, which may translate into broader applications of similar technologies across other therapeutic areas.

Biotechnology Expert

The strategic partnership leverages Quest Diagnostics' expertise in specimen collection and next-generation sequencing with Scipher Medicine's precision medicine technology, which is a notable development in the biotechnology sector. The PrismRA test is a sophisticated application of molecular diagnostics that aims to predict the efficacy of TNF inhibitors in RA patients. This approach could revolutionize the management of RA by enabling clinicians to tailor treatment strategies based on molecular signatures, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and potentially mitigating the financial burden of ineffective therapies.

Understanding the molecular traits associated with drug response is a complex task and the PrismRA test's predictive capabilities could set a precedent for future diagnostic tools in other areas of medicine. However, the success of this test will depend on its clinical validation, acceptance by the medical community and coverage by insurance providers. Furthermore, the collaboration could stimulate further research and development in the field of precision medicine, leading to advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

Financial Analyst

The alliance between Quest Diagnostics and Scipher Medicine has the potential to impact the financial landscape of the healthcare sector, especially in the diagnostics and precision medicine markets. The ability to predict patient response to TNF inhibitors could lead to more efficient use of healthcare resources, which is a critical consideration for insurers and healthcare providers. Furthermore, the enhanced diagnostic capabilities offered by Quest could attract additional business from healthcare professionals seeking more accurate treatment predictions for RA patients.

Investors may view this collaboration as a strategic move that could strengthen Quest Diagnostics' position in the precision medicine market. The anticipated growth in patient access points and the integration of advanced diagnostic services could contribute to Quest's market share expansion and revenue growth. Nonetheless, it is essential to monitor the adoption rate of the PrismRA test and the operational execution of the collaboration to fully assess its financial impact.

Relationship leverages Quest's sequencing and specimen collection expertise with Scipher's precision medicine technology

SECAUCUS, NJ and WALTHAM, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 19, 2023 / Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, and Scipher Medicine, a precision immunology company, recently announced a multi-pronged collaboration designed to expand patient access to diagnostic services advancing precision medicine for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Under a multi-year collaboration, Quest will provide advanced RNA extraction and next-generation sequencing services for Scipher's PrismRA test. The test is a blood-based molecular signature response classifier (MSRC) aimed at predicting a patient's response to TNF inhibitor (TNFi) therapy, a commonly prescribed treatment for patients with RA. In addition, Quest will enable specimen collection at approximately 7,300 patient access points, including phlebotomists in physician offices and over 2,100 patient service center locations, as well as courier logistics services that include transport of patient specimens between the Quest and Scipher laboratories and provider sites.

RA is an autoimmune disorder affecting approximately 1.3 million people in the United States. While TNF inhibitors are first-line therapy for RA, one in three patients fail to achieve a favorable response, delaying treatment with alternative therapies.ⁱ Lack of prompt RA treatment is associated with worse outcomes, including irreversible joint damage, pain and disability. In addition, treatment with TNFi therapies for patients who will not benefit can contribute to wasted healthcare dollars, as this class of biologics can cost $10,000 to $30,000 a year.ⁱⁱ

"PrismRA is a breakthrough in RA precision medicine diagnostics because it helps enable the early, personalized treatment so critical to favorable outcomes for this often-disabling disease. Through our relationship with Scipher, Quest extends our capabilities in autoimmune diagnostic services, including services to aid clinical decisions with biologics," said Karthik Kuppusamy, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Solutions, Quest Diagnostics.

Quest serves approximately one in two providers each year and enables connectivity with nearly 850 electronic health record systems for streamlined test ordering and results reporting.

The collaboration centers on Quest's next-generation sequencing capabilities at its advanced laboratory in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Quest will extract and sequence RNA from PrismRA blood specimens to identify approximately two dozen molecular traits associated with response to TNFi therapies. RNA transcripts in the blood can be incorporated into Scipher's molecular classifier analysis which is predictive of the biology that underpins drug response. Scipher will also incorporate this molecular data with patient data and results of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), an RA antibody marker, from testing at its North Carolina laboratory. Through their electronic health record, physicians receive a personalized report with a score indicating predicted response based on analysis of the complete set of laboratory and patient data.

"Our collaboration with Scipher delivers on Quest's strategy and investments in genomics, particularly next-generation sequencing, and scale in blood-specimen logistics. With these differentiated assets, Quest is empowering clinical innovators like Scipher to fulfill the potential of precision medicine to benefit large, underserved patient populations," said Mark A. Gardner, Senior Vice President, Molecular Genomics and Oncology, Quest Diagnostics.

Testing with PrismRA
Scipher's PrismRA test analyzes RA patients' molecular profiles to identify those unlikely to respond to TNF inhibitors. By analyzing an individual's molecular signature, the PrismRA test helps identify patients who can be prescribed an alternative effective therapy to avoid unnecessary dose escalations or drug cycles.

Previous data published by Scipher indicates RA patients with moderate and high disease activity whose treatment was guided by PrismRA had a nearly two-fold clinical improvement in Clinical Disease Activity Index scores compared to patients whose therapy was not guided by PrismRA results over six months.ⁱⁱⁱ

"We are excited to work with Quest Diagnostics to provide patients access to our PrismRA test," said Scipher Medicine CEO Alif Saleh. "This relationship will significantly expand the availability and make an impact on patients suffering from RA."

About PrismRA®
PrismRA is a revolutionary blood test bringing precision medicine to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, which affects 20 million patients globally. From a routine blood draw, the PrismRA test analyzes an individual's molecular signature, helping identify who is unlikely to adequately respond to TNFi therapy, the world's largest selling drug class,^iv so non-responders can be prescribed alternative effective therapy and avoid unnecessary dose escalations or drug cycles. Providers now have objective data to inform therapeutic decision-making and give patients the best chance of achieving treatment targets and improving clinical outcomes. For more information, please visit PrismRA.com.

About Scipher Medicine®
Scipher Medicine, a precision immunology company matching each patient with their most effective therapy, believes that patients deserve simple answers to treatment options based on scientific data. Using Spectra™, our proprietary network medicine platform, we commercialize tests revealing a person's unique molecular disease signature and match it to the most effective therapy, ensuring optimal treatment from day one. The patient molecular data generated from our tests further supports the discovery and development of novel and more effective therapeutics. We partner with leading payers, pharmacy benefit managers, health care providers, and biotechnology pharmaceutical companies to bring solutions to patients with autoimmune diseases. Visit sciphermedicine.com and follow Scipher Medicine on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

ⁱ Curtis JR, Jain A, Askling J. et al. A comparison of patient characteristics and outcomes in selected European and U.S. rheumatoid arthritis registries. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2010;40(1):2-14.e1.
ⁱⁱBiologics for RA: Costs and Insurance (webmd.com)
ⁱⁱⁱhttps://www.sciphermedicine.com/scipher-medicine-publishes-new-data-further-supporting-clinical-utility-of-prismra-blood-test/
^iv Wille E. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Disease analysis. Datamonitor Healthcare Pharma Intelligence. 2023 Feb 06.

For further information: For further information: Jennifer Petrella, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800 or mediacontact@QuestDiagnostics.com; Shawn Bevec, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Quest Diagnostics on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Quest Diagnostics
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/quest-diagnostics
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and Scipher Medicine about?

The collaboration aims to expand patient access to diagnostic services advancing precision medicine for rheumatoid arthritis.

What services will Quest provide for Scipher's PrismRA test?

Quest will provide advanced RNA extraction and next-generation sequencing services for Scipher's PrismRA test.

How many patient access points will enable specimen collection for the collaboration?

Approximately 7,300 patient access points, including phlebotomists in physician offices and over 2,100 patient service center locations, will enable specimen collection.

What is the aim of Scipher's PrismRA test?

The test aims to predict a patient's response to TNF inhibitor therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

How many people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis in the United States?

Approximately 1.3 million people in the United States are affected by rheumatoid arthritis.