Roche and Foundation Medicine Inc. announced that they will enter into a broad strategic collaboration to further advance FMI’s market-leading position in molecular information and genomic analysis while providing Roche a unique opportunity to optimize the identification and development of novel treatment options for cancer patients.

“We are very pleased to enter into this collaboration with FMI, which has the potential to improve both the development of medicines and patient care,” said Daniel O’Day, COO of Roche Pharma. “By combining FMI’s pioneering approach to genomics and molecular information with Roche’s expertise in the field of oncology, we can bring personalized healthcare in oncology to the next level.”

The emerging field of molecular information and genomic analysis will play an increasingly important role for future medicines and diagnostic solutions, in particular for cancer patients. FMI supports physicians by providing comprehensive molecular information to characterize a tumor that is being matched with approved targeted therapy options and novel treatments under development. Understanding the comprehensive genomic profile of a cancer patient’s disease will enable better personalized healthcare solutions to optimize treatment outcomes for patients.

“We are excited to announce this strategic collaboration with Roche, which will help accelerate our business, and importantly, represents significant potential for individuals with cancer around the world. We believe that putting molecular information at the center of cancer care will help transform the delivery of care for patients and speed the pace of drug discovery and development,” said Michael J. Pellini, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Medicine. “The structure of our agreement with Roche also allows us to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit at Foundation Medicine and ensures that our business model, network of partnerships and objectives are not altered.”

Source: Roche