Quest Diagnostics and Ultima Collaborate to Scale Ultima’s Technology in Fast-Growing Minimal Residual Disease and Whole Genome Sequencing

Rhea-AI Summary

Ultima Genomics (UG) and Quest Diagnostics (DGX) collaborate to improve patient access, affordability, and outcomes through the use of Ultima's next generation sequencing (NGS) technology in oncology and other clinical areas.

Genomics Expert

The collaboration between Ultima Genomics and Quest Diagnostics represents a significant advancement in the field of genomics, particularly in the application of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for oncology and rare disease detection. Ultima's innovation in ultra-high throughput sequencing architecture, which allows for a complete genome to be sequenced at the groundbreaking cost of $100, is a leap forward from the previous benchmark of $1,000 set in 2014. This cost reduction could democratize WGS, making it a more accessible tool for medical professionals and potentially leading to earlier detection and more personalized treatment plans for patients.

Moreover, the integration of Ultima's technology with Quest's Haystack solid-tumor MRD technology could enhance the sensitivity and specificity of minimal residual disease testing. This is crucial as MRD is a predictor of relapse in cancer patients. By detecting single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with high accuracy, the technology could lead to more effective monitoring of treatment responses and potentially improve patient outcomes. The focus on cell-free DNA applications is also noteworthy, as it could facilitate non-invasive testing options for patients.

From an industry standpoint, the partnership may set a new standard for genomic testing, compelling other companies to innovate further to remain competitive. The implications for healthcare providers and patients could be profound, with the potential for earlier interventions and more cost-effective treatment regimens.

Healthcare Industry Analyst

The strategic alliance between Ultima Genomics and Quest Diagnostics has the potential to disrupt the current market dynamics within the genomic sequencing industry. Quest's national scale and expertise in diagnostics, combined with Ultima's cost-efficient and highly sensitive sequencing technology, could drive wider adoption of WGS in clinical settings. This move aligns with the growing trend towards precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to the individual genetic profile of patients.

For stakeholders, the long-term benefits could include a shift in the standard of care for cancer and rare genetic diseases, with implications for insurance coverage and reimbursement policies. As WGS becomes more affordable and accessible, it may lead to a surge in demand for genomic data analysis, bioinformatics services and subsequent personalized therapies. However, this could also present challenges in data management, privacy and the need for skilled personnel to interpret complex genomic data.

From a financial perspective, the collaboration could enhance Quest Diagnostics' competitive edge in the market, potentially impacting its stock performance positively. The ability to offer cutting-edge genomic testing at lower costs could attract new customers and partnerships, while also increasing the volume of tests processed, which is a key revenue driver for diagnostic service providers.

Health Economist

The economic implications of the Ultima-Quest collaboration are multifaceted. The reduction in sequencing costs to $100 per genome could lead to substantial savings in healthcare spending, particularly in the oncology sector where the burden of cancer is significant. In 2023 alone, the projected new cancer cases and deaths highlight the urgent need for advancements in diagnostic and monitoring tools. By making WGS more affordable, the healthcare system may see a reduction in the overall cost of cancer care through more targeted and effective treatments, potentially reducing the need for expensive, broad-spectrum chemotherapies.

However, the increased accessibility of WGS might lead to a surge in demand for genetic testing, which could initially strain laboratory capacities and healthcare budgets. It is essential to consider the cost-effectiveness of widespread WGS adoption, including the downstream effects on other medical services and the potential for over-testing. Nevertheless, if managed appropriately, this technological shift has the potential to improve health outcomes and create a more efficient healthcare system in the long run.

Goal to combine Ultima’s highly sensitive, low-cost technology with Quest’s oncology expertise and national scale in order to improve patient access, affordability and outcomes

FREMONT, Calif & SECAUCUS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ultima Genomics, a developer of a revolutionary new ultra-high throughput sequencing architecture, and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the nation’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced a collaboration involving Ultima’s next generation sequencing (NGS) technology in oncology and other clinical areas.

The collaboration aims to improve patient access, affordability and outcomes by broadening the use of highly accurate, cost-efficient and high-volume whole genome sequencing for fast-growth areas, such as solid-tumor minimal residual disease (MRD) testing. Quest intends to deploy the Ultima technology for the possible development of lab-developed tests involving its Haystack solid-tumor MRD™ technology for future clinical and biopharmaceutical MRD applications, supplementing its current whole exome sequencing approach, as well as for certain future whole genome testing applications, such as rare disease detection in pediatric patients.

Ultima recently unveiled its platform technology, a new sequencing architecture that supports sequencing an entire genome for $100. At an event in December 2023, the Company previewed its first commercial system to use this new architecture, the UG 100™ System, to a group of leaders across the genomics field. In addition to lower costs, the technology is also unique for its high sensitivity for detecting rare cancer-related gene variants, particularly changes in DNA base pairs called single nucleotide variants (SNVs).

The collaboration will leverage Quest's expertise and scale in oncology, genomics and pathology and national scale in tumor biopsy and blood specimen collection. Quest provides comprehensive oncology services, spanning genetic risk assessment, cancer diagnostics and treatment monitoring, to marquee health systems and other providers in the United States. The company’s approximately 400 AmeriPath pathologists provide tumor biopsy diagnostic services while its 7,000 patient access sites nationwide provide blood draws.

“We are delighted to collaborate with the world’s leading diagnostics information services provider to deploy our technology toward lab-developed tests for applications benefiting from insights from whole genome sequencing,” said Gilad Almogy, Ultima Genomics CEO. “Ultima’s technology was designed for applications requiring greater sequencing depth, breadth, or frequency and both MRD testing and whole genome sequencing are premier examples of these. Our unique advantages in SNV detection, combined with greater sequencing depth at lower cost can be transformational for oncology applications and MRD, as well as for cell-free DNA applications and applications with challenging samples. The collaboration with Quest emphasizes our focus on enabling the leading organizations that will help us scale our technology and, most importantly, benefit patients and providers.”

“Quest’s strategy is to deliver solutions to meet the evolving needs of our key customers: physicians, health systems and consumers. One way we do that is by innovating solutions that combine our strengths with those of tech pioneers, such as Ultima, that are setting new industry standards,” said Mark Gardner, Senior Vice President, Molecular Genomics and Oncology at Quest Diagnostics. “By radically driving sequencing costs down, Ultima has changed the economics of genomics so that other costs in the testing value chain become critically important. And that’s where Quest’s strengths come in: With our scale in solid tumor and blood testing, we can drive costs down even further while also increasing access, so more people can benefit from the clinically rich insights of whole genome sequencing.”

In 2014, it became possible to sequence a human genome in its entirety for $1,000. While technology improvements have occurred since then, the costs of sequencing have remained elevated for much of the last decade. As a result, whole genome sequencing is typically used for rare disease and some oncology testing, but less available for applications targeting large populations. The Ultima technology was created from the “ground-up” to overcome this challenge while also enhancing accuracy, productivity, and flexibility for high-volume applications. With innovations that include an open wafer to replace a traditional flow cell, built-in technology to enable highly accurate SNV detection, as well as machine learning to drive continuous improvement in sequencing data quality, Ultima’s UG 100^TM sequencer offers unique benefits for many high-volume applications.

In 2023, 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the U.S. Most cancers are due to solid tumors, such as colorectal, breast, skin and lung cancer. While treatment typically combines surgical tumor removal and adjuvant chemo- or immune therapy, tiny cancer molecules can persist, triggering cancer recurrence.

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.

About Ultima Genomics

Ultima Genomics is unleashing the power of genomics at scale. The Company's mission is to continuously drive the scale of genomic information to enable unprecedented advances in biology and improvements in human health. With humanity on the cusp of a biological revolution, there is a virtually endless need for more genomic information to address biology's complexity and dynamic change—and a further need to challenge conventional next-generation sequencing technologies. Ultima's revolutionary new sequencing architecture drives down the costs of sequencing to help overcome the tradeoffs that scientists and clinicians are forced to make between the breadth, depth and frequency with which they use genomic information. The new sequencing architecture was designed to scale far beyond conventional sequencing technologies, lower the cost of genomic information and catalyze the next phase of genomics in the 21st century. To learn more, visit www.ultimagenomics.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240109665572/en/

Quest Contacts:

Jennifer Petrella, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800 or mediacontact@QuestDiagnostics.com;

Shawn Bevec, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900

Ultima Contacts:

Consort Partners for Ultima Genomics

ultimagenomics@consortpartners.com

Source: Ultima Genomics

FAQ

What is the collaboration between Ultima Genomics and Quest Diagnostics about?

The collaboration aims to improve patient access, affordability, and outcomes by broadening the use of highly accurate, cost-efficient, and high-volume whole genome sequencing for fast-growth areas, such as solid-tumor minimal residual disease (MRD) testing.

What technology is Ultima Genomics bringing to the collaboration?

Ultima recently unveiled its platform technology, a new sequencing architecture that supports sequencing an entire genome for $100. It offers high sensitivity for detecting rare cancer-related gene variants, particularly changes in DNA base pairs called single nucleotide variants (SNVs).

How does Quest Diagnostics plan to use Ultima's technology?

Quest intends to deploy the Ultima technology for the possible development of lab-developed tests involving its Haystack solid-tumor MRD™ technology for future clinical and biopharmaceutical MRD applications, supplementing its current whole exome sequencing approach, as well as for certain future whole genome testing applications, such as rare disease detection in pediatric patients.

What are the benefits of Ultima's UG 100™ sequencer?

The UG 100™ sequencer offers unique benefits for high-volume applications, including an open wafer to replace a traditional flow cell, built-in technology to enable highly accurate SNV detection, and machine learning to drive continuous improvement in sequencing data quality.

What are the projected new cancer cases and deaths in the U.S. in 2023?

In 2023, 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the U.S., with most cancers being due to solid tumors such as colorectal, breast, skin, and lung cancer.