Foundation Medicine has started the “Quality First” initiative to create awareness of how “not all cancer biomarker tests are created equal.”
The Roche subsidiary pioneered comprehensive genomic profiling. But with other diagnostic companies entering the market, the cancer testing specialist faces a fight to differentiate its products from its rivals’ tests. With “Quality First,” Foundation Medicine is making the case that cancer biomarker tests differ in ways that have implications for patient outcomes.
The campaign materials include video testimonials by Greg and Karen. Greg is a patient advocate who was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer that had metastasized to the extent that the CT scan lit up “like a Christmas tree.” Karen meanwhile is a patient advocate who calls herself one of the longest-living people in the U.S. with stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer.
Foundation Medicine’s test showed Greg’s tumor had an ALK mutation, making targeted therapies such as Roche’s Alecensa, Takeda’s Alunbrig and Pfizer’s Lorbrena potential treatment options. Greg, who had metastases in multiple organs, now has no evidence of disease from the neck down.
After her original physician denied her access to Foundation Medicine’s product, Karen fought to get tested and went on to receive results that suggested she was a good candidate for immunotherapy-only treatment. Karen entered a clinical trial. After eight weeks, Karen’s lesions had reduced by 72%, leading her to state that Foundation Medicine’s biomarker testing was “key in me staying alive, period.”
The awareness campaign amplifies a message that Foundation Medicine CEO Dan Malarek conveyed at Roche’s annual diagnostic investor event in May. Assays that are unable to detect difficult alterations, such as MTAP loss, may miss patients who could benefit from a treatment, Malarek said.
Roche’s molecular lab unit, which includes Foundation Medicine, reported (PDF) flat sales at a constant exchange rate in the first quarter. The unit reported (PDF) 4% constant-currency growth in 2025, leading to full-year sales of 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($3.1 billion).