AstraZeneca Tags Cancer Genetics to Provide Diagnostics in the Caribbean and Central America

AstraZeneca CAMCAR has chosen DNA-based cancer diagnostics provider Cancer Genetics to deliver biomarker-based diagnostic testing for lung cancer, the companies announced Monday.

According to the agreement Rutherford, N.J.-based CGI will perform diagnostic and prognostic testing of cancer patients in Latin America and the Caribbean, where lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death.

CGI will also explore with AZ-CAMCAR possible expansion into other geographic territories, further oncology categories and select oncology trials, the companies said. These efforts are just in the planning stages, CGI President and CEO Panna Sharma told Device Daily Bulletin.

Because of a “lack of diagnostic infrastructure” in Central America and the Caribbean, AZ-CAMCAR was looking for “a world class laboratory with cancer knowledge,” Sharma said, adding that the Latin American cancer treatment market has potential for high growth. — Kellen Owings

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