On November 20, 2014 TESARO and Myriad Genetics reported a collaboration utilizing Myriad’s myChoice HRD companion diagnostic (CDx) to identify tumor tissue with a deficiency in homologous recombination (Press release Myriad Genetics, NOV 20, 2014, View Source [SID:1234500994]). Under the terms of the agreement, TESARO will utilize Myriad’s test to enrich the target population for potential responders to niraparib. Myriad will provide testing services and pursue necessary regulatory approvals in support of TESARO’s development of niraparib.

The Companies also described new data demonstrating that Myriad’s myChoice HRD score is predictive of niraparib sensitivity in patient-derived xenograft models of ovarian cancer. These results were presented today by Dr. Paul Haluska, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic, at the 26th EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Barcelona, Spain.

“Myriad’s myChoice HRD diagnostic test identifies the inherent biology of the tumor and differentiates tumors with homologous repair deficiencies from those without such deficiencies,” said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. “Niraparib sensitivity in patient-derived xenograft models is associated with HRD status as defined by the myChoice HRD test.”

“We are excited to be expanding our collaboration with TESARO as we strongly believe new diagnostics such as myChoice HRD, combined with targeted therapies such as niraparib, have the potential to significantly improve patient care,” said Jerry Lanchbury, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Myriad. “myChoice HRD utilizes three proprietary measures to assess the genomic scar associated with the loss of DNA repair and has been shown in multiple clinical studies to be the most comprehensive predictor of tumor response to DNA damaging agents such as niraparib.”